IN the scare brought about by the rapid increase in coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in the country, at which point do schools, companies and individuals have to take drastic action such as cancel classes, cut work days or order lockdowns?
The decisions the institutions and individuals make might be greater than the risks the disease poses. But to underestimate or underprepare for the emergency could turn out deadly.
What then should guide us in making decisions on the extent of protective action we should take? At which point in the preparations do we decide this or that? How to remain level-headed and not panic? What does it mean when the World Health Organization (WHO) urged governments around the world to pull out “all the stops” in the fight against the deadly new coronavirus?
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said last week: “This is not a drill. This is not the time to give up. This is not a time for excuses. This is a time for pulling out all the stops. Countries have been planning for scenarios like this for decades. Now is the time to act on those plans.”
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Diseases in the Philippines, headed by Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Dr. Francisco Duque III, might be able to answer questions that start with–“At which point do we...?”
Already schools are canceling classes while some companies are resorting to shorter work weeks and requiring staff to go on more days off or leave.
Classes in all levels in both public and private schools in Manila and Caloocan cities have been suspended amid the Covid-19 threat. Manila City Mayor Francisco Moreno Domagoso said the suspension will run from March 9 to 15, 2020. Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan suspended classes from March 10 to 11.
Some companies are allowing telecommuting or working from outside the office, cutting down work week from five to four days, or forcing employees to go on paid or unpaid leave.
But, for the many more who are unsure about what action to take, guidance is necessary.
There also should be guidelines to ensure that companies or organizations do not take advantage of the restrictions in movement and financial slowdown to slice operations or dismiss personnel. They might use the Covid-19 scare for evil reasons.
The DOH said Monday, March 9, 2020, that there are 10 additional cases of the Covid-19 in the country, bringing the total to 20. The 10 new confirmed cases are confined and isolated in hospitals.
During these times of uncertainty and anxiety, the inter-agency task force should expand its coverage and include the giving of guidelines not only on protecting one’s health but also on what to do at a certain time when a threshold is crossed.
The task force should be able to do this as it has other government departments on Labor, Justice, Foreign Affairs and Local Government as members.