By Leonardo Micua

 

ALTHOUGH COVID-19 cases in the country, including Pangasinan, have dropped significantly based on figures from the Department of Health, there should be no room for complacency among us knowing that the disease can still resurge like what’s happening in Europe and other parts of the world.

A report shared on Facebook on November 24 contained the veiled warning of the World Health Organization that if the current trend across many countries in Europe will continue, it could lead to another 700,000 deaths by March next year.

It is undoubtedly in Europe where the eye of the storm is today. With 1.5 million deaths  already logged in 53 countries since the start of the contagion, the number could top 2.2 million by early next year if the disease is not contained soon.

Corollary to this, New Zealand has not yet opened its borders and Australia, per the report of Canberra Times, will do it beginning this December after significant drop of cases in Sydney and Melbourne. It is in these countries where many Europeans are headed for vacation.

Consider this: A new type of Beta variant that is several times more transmittable than any  of the past variants that hit the Philippines, has just been discovered in Botswana and Hong Kong. According to Dr. Maricar Limpin, president of the Philippine College of Physicians, we are at a great risk of getting this kind of variant due to our proximity to Hong Kong.

To date, many countries around the world, including the Philippines, are exerting all means to prevent another surge of the virus similar to Europe’s. In the Philippines, it is ramping up the vaccination of its citizens in a bid to attain herd immunity earlier than projected.

But the festive mood of our citizens this Christmas season under more relaxed alert levels, often disregarding standard health protocols, could fan a new surge of cases, a situation we all do not want to happen.

Then there is the national and local elections next year where people cannot be reined to just stay home because there are politicians moving around and could he handing out cash and ayuda.

Call me a kill joy but the crisis is not yet over and throwing caution to the wind is still a no-no.

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It is conceded that based on existing data of the Provincial Health Office, the situation in Pangasinan is now getting back to normal. With just more than 100 COVID-18 cases, mostly asymptomatic, remaining and isolating in their homes, methinks the province could now be on the threshold of being downgraded to Alert Level 1 from the present Alert Level 2. 

With only few cases left, our overworked health workers can now heave a sigh of relief and take a much needed rest if not vacation, which they were not able to do during the third surge of COVID-19 cases. 

Reports say that because of the significant drop of cases, many LGUs have already disbanded their isolation facilities for them to conserve their scarce resources because running such facilities with just one or two cases to be served is much too costly. 

Considering the fact that we are not yet saying goodbye to COVID-19 as the disease still lingers on, may yet surge any time, it is best for the LGUs not to completely discard their respective isolation facilities and simply put all these in reserve for any eventuality later. 

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China bullied the Philippines again when it recently called on the latter to remove its rusting BRP Sierra Madre beached (deliberately or not) at the Ayungin Shoal which is a part of the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EZZ).

Such bullying deserves condemnation in no uncertain terms. The bully is practically telling us to leave the shoal which forms part of our national territory. Aren’t we the ones who should be telling the Chinese to leave the Panatag Shoal,  which they had illegally occupied years back?

The new bullying came on the heels of the hosing down by a Chinese Coast Guard of a supply vessel that was to bring provision to a marine detachment stationed inside BRP Sierra Madre, within firing distance from the Chinese occupied Panatag Shoal.

It is about time the Philippines stands up and teaches the bully a lesson! It is time we ask the international community to help us assert the arbitral ruling by an international court in The Hague, Netherlands, which was won by the Philippines with flying colors but which China refuses to recognize.

We cannot wage war with China but certainly we should tell them to their face that enough is enough!

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