Is It Possible to Control COVID-19?

The Philippines now has the highest count of Covid19 cases in Southeast Asia based on the data with almost 140K reported cases from the Department of Health as of August 11. 

The Philippine government has implemented various precautionary actions to stop the spread of the virus including a community quarantine in Metro Manila, as well as in nearby provinces and regions of the country. Apart from that, mass testing has been expanded across the country, additional hospital beds were put in place to ensure that our healthcare system could handle surge capacity, and the social and economic impact to the community were also been addressed, providing social amelioration from low to zero income families. 

Have you ever wondered why cases continue to rise despite several lockdowns? There may be so many boggling questions playing on your mind, but what do you think is missing in our efforts to eliminate the virus? 

Let’s do a fast check on the basics. Are you wearing masks, washing or sanitizing your hands and minding your distance? If your answer is yes, then you’re good. We just need to find out more ways to help stop the spread of this coronavirus. Do you think it’s really possible to control COVID-19? If other countries can, we too can! 

Don’t be complacent. The Filipino attitude of bahala na and relaxing our guards against this virus could put our loved ones and the whole nation at more risk. Even if the government imposes MECQ in our area, the fact that positive cases are still rising, this is already an indication that we can’t be complacent. 

Stop social gathering. Birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, Grandparents’ Day, summer vacation and long weekends are what we all look forward to. But is it really that hard to make a little sacrifice this year? Instead of going out to celebrate, we can always opt to have a simple gathering at home with our families. Just have simple celebrations at home and don’t invite other people to go to your house. There’s always a next time to celebrate with friends and relatives. 

Be realistic. The virus is out there and it can kill! We have heard so many stories from people who got infected themselves, and the experiences of those people whose loved ones got the virus so we should learn from them and follow their advice. Going through what they did is something we do not want for ourselves or our loved ones. 

This virus, if we’re not careful, may hit you and your family without a warning. Getting infected with COVID-19 can be very stressful and may cause anxiety. With the high cost of medical treatment, from testing to hospital confinements, it will certainly take a toll to our finances. Imagine the stress it brings when you or any of your family members get infected. What if you don’t have health insurance like Paramount’s Hospital Income Benefit Plan to assist you financially against hospital bills? . Is your savings enough? If you haven’t started out a plan yet, now is the best time to do it. You must prepare for inevitable health emergencies and medical expenses by getting a health plan to cover against any diseases. 

Have self-discipline. By doing the basic safety protocols, you are not only protecting yourself but you are also showing respect to others. Remember, it all starts in us. 

The main reason why this virus is spreading so fast is because of these so-called “superspreaders”. These are asymptomatic people who are virus carriers and don’t have any symptoms at all. 

Superspreaders can be found in places where social distancing is not practised such as some depressed areas, gatherings , indoor and enclosed places like bars or restaurants and in some public transportations or terminals. 

We know that during these times, the struggle to most of us is real. Share your thoughts. What can you contribute to end this virus?