Cabaero: Safety at the polls

Cabaero: Safety at the polls

Voters will have two questions to consider when they go to their precincts on May 9, 2022. Who to vote for? Is it safe to go out with thousands of voters with the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) is still around?

The answer to the first question depends on the voter. It is a candidate-selection process that is based on information gathered, untruths uncovered and set aside, and reflection on what is best for the future of their children and grandchildren. At least that is the hope. At this critical point when the country faces many challenges, there must be discernment as to who would be our true leaders.

The second question dwells on health and safety issues related to the Covid-19. You wonder if the spread of the virus is controlled and if it is safe to go out and line up with thousands of people to their precinct? There was no physical distancing then, there might be no physical distancing this May 9.

What is a bright spot is the finding that 15 regions in the country have inoculated at least 60 percent of their population targeted for vaccination against the Covid-19 virus. National Task Force Against Covid-19 (NTF) chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said last March 15 that 64,838,213 Filipinos are now fully vaccinated, while 11,291,687 individuals have received booster shots or additional doses.

Those that have reached their target of fully vaccinating at least 70 percent of their eligible population include the National Capital Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Western Visayas. Those that vaccinated about 60 percent of their target population are Mimaropa, Bicol, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region and Caraga. Cebu is included in the 60 percent vaccination of the eligible population.

Target population means people in the categories of priority that include those in the medical sector, senior citizens, those with comorbidity, and other frontliners. With vaccines available to the general population, including those six to 17 years old, it is no longer clear what the target population is. The country’s goal at the start of the vaccination campaign was to inoculate up to 70 million to achieve population protection.

The Covax or the Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access, a worldwide alliance that includes the World Health Organization (WHO), targets a 70 percent total population coverage by the middle of 2022.

Silent about preparations to make the election day safe for voters is the Commission on Elections (Comelec). The poll body should start drawing up safety guidelines together with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

Rules can include no sharing of ballpen, ropes placed to separate the lines, chairs set apart, and masks required at all times.

Those measures should be in place to assure voters that their health and safety are being protected and that they have no excuse come election day.

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