ALLOW me a brief break from Marian and other supernatural issues, as I express some concern over plans of the Mabalacat City Government to push through with the annual Caragan festival amid the threat of Covid 19.
Last Tuesday, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US warned of the inevitable spread of Covid-19 and urged "social distancing measures," including even closing schools in case of an outbreak, dividing school classes into smaller groups of students, cancelling meetings and conferences, and arranging for employees to work from home.
Quoting the CDC, The New York Times reported that "coronavirus almost certainly will begin spreading in communities in the United States, and Americans should begin preparations now."
"It's not so much of a question of if this will happen anymore but rather more of a question of exactly when this will happen," said Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.
Now for yet another disheartening development. In Hubei province in China, an infected 70-year-old man did not exhibit Covid-19 symptoms until 27 days later.
On 24 January, the man had close contact with his infected sister, said Hubei government website. He had a fever on 20 February and received test confirmation the next day.
At present worldwide, countries are adopting only a 14-day quarantine period, based on the World Health Organization guidelines. A long incubation period could mean we just might expect an unexpected Covid-19 explosion in the near future.
A longer incubation period would impact the efforts focused on controlling the coronavirus spread.
In Italy, the Venice Carnival was closed early and Milan's Fashion Week will have limited access, after over 130 persons in the country tested positive for the coronavirus.
Milan's schools are set to close and some public events have been cancelled.
Elsewhere, Pakistan temporarily closed its border with Iran to halt the possible spread of Covid-19 after Iranian authorities reported several coronavirus cases and deaths.
And in Mabalacat, officials decided to push thru with the Caragan Festival that, last year, was reported to have attracted 30,000 tourists. Crowd dance is on March 5 and stage performances are slated the following day.
City officials said all health measures are to be implemented to curb the mere possibility of Covid-19 occurrence. Implying that developed countries are probably not as competent so they had to resort to such extremes as closing some schools in case of an outbreak, dividing school classes into smaller groups of students, cancelling meetings and conferences, and arranging for employees to work from home.
AND NOW FOR THE LATEST messages from the Blessed Mother in Medjugorje. Her message last February 25, as you will see below, seems to revolve around events after the Warning, the Miracle and the Chastisement.
Her message of February 25 is as follows:
"Dear children! In this time of grace, I desire to see your faces transformed in prayer. You are so flooded by earthly concerns, you do not even feel that spring is at the threshold. You are called, little children, to penance and prayer. As nature fights in silence for new life, also you are called to open yourselves in prayer to God, in Whom you will find peace and warmth of the spring sun in your hearts. Thank you for having responded to my call."
Earlier last February 2, the Blessed Mother said:
"Dear children! By the act of the decision and love of God, I am chosen to be the Mother of God and your mother. But also by my will and my immeasurable love for the Heavenly Father and my complete trust in Him, my body was the chalice of the God-man.
"I was in the service of truth, love and salvation, as I am now among you to call you, my children, apostles of my love, to be carriers of truth; to call you to spread His words, the words of salvation, by your will and love for my Son: that with your actions you may show, to all those who have not come to know my Son, His love.
"You will find strength in the Eucharist-my Son who feeds you with His Body and strengthens you with His Blood. My children, fold your hands [in prayer] and look at the Cross in silence. In this way, you are drawing faith to be able to transmit it; you are drawing truth to be able to discern; you are drawing love that you may know to love truly. My children, apostles of my love, fold your hands [in prayer], look at the Cross. Only in the Cross is salvation. Thank you."