We wanted the Covid-19 pandemic to be over and so we believed it and relaxed our guard against the virus. But, as we started Holy Week, the Department of Health (DOH) resumed its case count.
The DOH in Central Visayas, in its Facebook.com/DOH7govph, branched out from coronavirus disease (Covid-19) reporting to other concerns such as promoting World Health Worker Week and World Health Day last week and the summer blood donation drive, and warnings against heat stroke and the spread of rubella or German measles. It also countered false information online on the closure of resorts due to the heat wave or a miracle cure for diabetes. But its post Saturday, April 8, 2023, was a call for the public to continue wearing face masks even if in open air places and whether it is required or not, as protection against Covid-19.
The reminder is timely as the DOH sees an increase in infections again. DOH’s national Covid-19 case bulletin dated last April 3 showed 1,721 new cases from March 27 to April 2. Of this number, 13 were considered severe and critical cases and 58 deaths were verified.
Daily average cases were placed at 246 or 33 percent higher than cases reported on March 20 to 26.
On healthcare uses, as of April 2, there were 347 severe and critical admissions, 13.7 percent bed utilization in intensive care units, and 16.5 percent non-ICU beds used.
Prior to the April 3 bulletin, the last one posted to the DOH Facebook page was on March 20.
It didn’t say if bulletins will now come frequently but, when the DOH starts posting those numbers, that means Covid-19 is spreading again.
The figures are a reflection of Covid-19 cases in the country rising again, a sort of resurrection, after some period of dying down. We all wanted the virus to go away but that’s not happening. What people have learned is to live with Covid by taking the same precautions of wearing a face mask, washing hands regularly, physical distancing, and not leaving the house if feeling unwell or with a persistent cough, colds, and fever to not infect others.
Churches did their part by continuing the health precautions during Holy Week. In one church, parishioners were told to genuflect and not go near the altar in the veneration of the cross on Good Friday. In another, the public was told to sanitize as alcohol was available at the altar’s entrance and touch, not kiss, the cross. Other churches placed chairs outside so people could spread themselves.
The government has made voluntary the wearing of face masks but churches have continued to remind parishioners to keep the mask on because the virus is around and people still get sick or die from it.
We’ve learned our lessons from the years of living with Covid-19, so we know what to do as it visits us again.