IN assuring our countrymen that our government is on top against the spread of the Covid-19, President Rodrigo Duterte, in an evening press conference Monday in Malacañang, told the press: “I assure you, we have the money and we can defeat the virus.” Thank you, Mr. President!
The appearance of the President on Monday night before the press was to provide us with the true state of the nation’s health after the number of Covid-19 cases increased from 10 to 24. It was the President who revealed the new four cases in West Crame, San Juan, Sta. Maria in Bulacan and Project 6 in Quezon City.
But before anything else, we should be grateful to the Lord God that in Central Visayas there are no more patients under investigation (PUI) and people under monitoring (PUM). Department of Health (DOH-7) Regional Director Jaime Bernadas told the press on Monday.
With the declaration of a “state of public health emergency,” the Duterte administration has easy access to funds to combat this virus that is now worldwide. But the big question that hangs in the balance is, can the government provide testing centers all over the country when there is an alleged lack of supply of the testing kits?
Whoever could believe that Covid-19, which broke out in Wuhan City, China in December 2019, would spread that fast to different countries, including the rich nations and it happened during the Lunar New Year when many Chinese would travel to other countries since it was a long holiday?
There were several discussions on the origin of the virus. That this virus came from the exotic animals or mammals, like bats, that are available in the Wuhan City wet market remained unproven. The implausible, if not most horrifying theory, which was fake after all, was that a leaking biochemical laboratory underneath the Wuhan market was the cause.
The World Health Organization (WHO) together with experts from different countries are on their toes on how to prevent the further spread of Covid-19 after the first world countries are now affected. Italy now ranks number one on the number of persons affected with Covid-19.
At the moment, there is no news yet of a cure to this deadly virus. All that we read in social media are supposedly natural methods or herbs that could help prevent the spread of the virus, but are yet to be scientifically proven to be effective.
At present, all that the DOH could do is advise the public to take healthy and sanitary precautions, like regularly washing our hands with soap or apply sanitizers, and to avoid crowds. Schools that are near the area of contamination have suspended their classes.
The question that many asked is, are the measures that the DOH implemented enough to combat the Covid-19? The DOH does not even agree to the suggestion of a lockdown of certain places in the country where the number of Covid-19 cases is high.
The Department of Labor and Employment also recommended shorter working hours, and in the case of call centers, for the agents to work in the comfort of their homes to avoid the contamination.
With the spread of Covid-19, the world is now at a standstill. This is not only a grave health issue of the countries that were hit by the virus, but a more serious matter on the economy of the affected countries, particularly the third world countries since there is restraint in international trading of goods.
Aside from observing the advice of the DOH, I sincerely suggest we all pray and hope that this malady would perish sooner than expected.