AS OF yesterday, per nationwide tally of the Department of Health (DOH), the Covid-19 cases rose to 6,459 with the additional of 200 new cases. The good thing though is that there are more recoveries, 613, as against the recorded death of 428.
Here in Cebu City, as of Saturday, 163 persons are confirmed infected with the coronavirus, while 10 in Lapu-Lapu City, six in Mandaue City, and one each in Talisay City, Cordova and Consolacion, Cebu.
Globally, the Covid-19 cases are 2,160,207, including the new 85,678 confirmed cases, with USA on top of the list. In Southeast Asia, the confirmed Covid-19 cases are 25,291, including the 1,731 new cases. Sadly, our country tops the list, followed by Malaysia with 4,987 cases.
The experts have predicted that Covid-19 cases would still go up even with the preventive measures that each nation has implemented. This is not to compare, but we're better off than the USA considering the insufficiency of the testing kits and PPEs for the medical frontliners and the police, and food aid to those in need after the non-essential businesses were closed as a result of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
Albeit delayed in enforcing the community quarantine, which later became enhanced, but because majority of us followed and observed the hygiene regulations that the DOH enforced, like regularly washing with soap our hands or putting on alcohol, wearing of face mask and social distancing, the number of cases was not as high as it is in USA and Europe.
It's disheartening that some of our brethren would rather choose to die with Covid-19 than stay at home. It's a fact that no one would die without food for a day or two. But these stubborn allegedly go out of their homes for food but some turned out were only gambling. To patiently wait for the government's food and cash aid is a virtue.
President Rodrigo Duterte has instructed the DSWD to handle the distribution of the food and cash aid to the poorest of the poor after complaints of corruption reached him and that some barangay officials discriminate those who are not their political supporters.
Last week, I wrote in this corner if we do want martial law since many still do not comply with the ECQ, resulting in the steady increase of Covid-19 cases. If I may say, it was a good hint because it turned out it was already in the planning table of President Duterte to exercise his extraordinary powers in this Covid-19 crisis to call on the military to assist the police in enforcing the ECQ if not a total lockdown.
All my FB friends, who read my post, favor the idea of imposing martial rule in order to flatten the curve of Covid-19. Well, it's a good thing that President Duterte is still keeping his cool despite this stressful situation.
For Luzon, the last day of the ECQ is on April 30, which is the same with Cebu City. But the Province of Cebu is not certain because Governor Gwen Garcia's executive order is open-ended. A Cabinet member of President Duterte has recommended a selective ECQ or lockdown only of areas considered the epicenter of Covid-19 and reopen the non-essential business and companies in order to breathe life into the country's economy.
I believe a selective lockdown is suitable because the government's resources would be focused on the affected areas only. But the government should still strictly enforce the curfew, wearing of face mask, physical distancing and for the establishments to provide alcohol or water and soap for hand washing of their patrons.