LAST time out we mentioned that we should stop the scaring and start the caring. Again, let me reiterate what we mentioned—Covid-19 is real and it is here! I’m glad than the internet, television and radio are now flooding with what to do articles and infographics. These would have been better served earlier but with the way things have turned out with this pandemic, the purpose of “prevention” can still be achieved. It’s about time we “educate” everyone on basic personal hygiene.
It had to take a community quarantine, or an enhanced community quarantine, for the citizens to really come to terms with the impact of this corona. This is one “crown” that I don’t think anyone would want to carry. A “crown” that even beauty queens and champions would hate to wear. Go out into the streets, now, and you’ll feel just how “strong” this enemy is. But this preventive measure is needed now more than ever. Those dumbbells can go to the streets and shout against what this administration has announced. I am sure, however, that more of the citizenry agree that this is what we need. In fact, this is the best way to do it from what I’ve heard. Social distancing, or avoiding the virus and contamination, is the way to do it. How? Just cooperate and do as the authorities say. Don’t be paranoid and think that it will turn into militarization or even martial law. Advanced mag-isip? LOL
I read from a shared article that maybe our Maker is telling us something. Maybe God is sending us a message. There will be negatives but for sure, there will also be “positives.” God must be pressing the reset button so that things can “restart.” In Fr. Art Borja’s article, he said that “...citizens are made to see clearly how their elected officials are responding to the crisis, selfishly or compassionately. Citizens will witness the real heroes who are in the frontlines battling this “enemy” to save lives. And they will see those who are just grandstanding and doing the blame game. Citizens will see.”
So let us start opening our eyes. The quarantine, enhanced or not, reactive or pre-emptive, will save us. It will take time but it will work. Let us open our eyes, our minds, our hearts, and do our part.
“In times of stress and danger such as come about as the result of an epidemic, many tragic and cruel phases of human nature are brought out, as well as many brave and unselfish ones.” ~ William Crawford Gorgas, Sanitation in Panama
“Transparency is critical in public health and epidemics; laypeople become either effective force-multipliers or stubborn walls... Raising awareness versus raising alarm; the public can’t be better informed if the information isn’t better.” ~ T.K. Naliaka