Many countries have issued stamps to note the fight against COVID-19, the coronavirus pandemic. (“COVID-19_ is short for Coronavirus Disease 2019.)
The United Nations issue this sheet on August 11th.
Ukraine issue a stamp for its “front-line” workers on May 29th.
The Isle of Man issued “Carry Us Through” on May 4th an eight-stamp set “highlighting the message that Love, Faith, Care, Compassion, Work, Community, Words and Science will “carry us through” the pandemic. VSC member Foster Miller posted details in VSC’s Facebook Group.
Greenland issued a semi-postal (a stamp with a surcharge for charity) on August 10th. (Thanks to VSC member Steve Leitner.)
And VSC member Joseph Goodwin is assembling a collection of COVID-19-related stamps.
Thanks. this is very helpful.
I see that a number of countries have already issued stamps either acknowledging the global pandemic or honoring those on the front line in medicine or research that are contributing to the treatment or prevention of the virus. One would surely agree these are noble subjects for the issuance of such stamps but how long will it take for the U.S. to do so instead of ten Bugs Bunny issues?
The Bugs Bunny stamps are just as important. Perhaps next year they will do a semi-postal for COVID. I’m still waiting for semi-postals dedicatated to Diabetes (was issued as a regular stamp in 2001), HIV/AIDS awareness (was issued by Russia in 1995 and Ukraine in 2001), Prostate Cancer Awareness (was issued as a regular stamp in 1999), as well as Down Syndrome and Autism to name a few.
I completly agree with Dennis. The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a terrible toll in human life..The epic consequences on the world populations deserves to be recognized in philately. I did receive a pictorial cancellation indicating that fleet week was cancelled due to COVID 19. Perhaps the USPS will actively consider a COVID stamp??
One of the criteria for stamp issues by USPS states that negative occurrences and disasters will not be commemorated on U.S. postage stamps or stationery. The last issue that honored first responders was in September 13 2018. It must have sold out because it is no longer on the USPS website. The stamp issues are normally approved a few years in advance.
So how did they justify stamps commemorating WWI or WW2? I think a stamp that commemorates those who are on the front line of the pandemic and their heroic efforts, challenges, and accomplishments is not necessarily memorializing a negative. We shouldn’t bury our heads in the sand just because an event appears to only have negative characteristics. Weren’t there stamps for defeating polio and other major medical/health/scientific accomplishments? Wouldn’t one be appropriate if a cure for cancer was discovered? This is a global event and the U.S. was/is certainly affected for both good and bad.