Red Arm Band

(Part of an ongoing account started on March 13, 2020 of how the spread of COVID-19 in our country and our government’s response has affected our lives.)

It was during the televised “Laging Handa” press briefing last March 25 that I first saw the red arm band on Department of Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire
Photo: Screengrab from PTV

When asked about it, she says, “Ito po ay isang sensyales ng pagsuporta po natin, lalong-lalo na po sa ating mga healthcare workers, lalong-lalo na po sa ating mga namatay na doktor at doon po sa ating lahat ng healthcare workers na sa ngayon ay patuloy pa ring lumalaban , inaalagaan po ang lahat ng mga pasyente sa lahat ng ospital dito sa Pilipinas (This is a sign of our support, especially for the doctors who have died and the health workers who continue to fight and care for the patients here in the Philippines).”

She touches the red band she is wearing around her upper right arm, saying “I encourage everyone to wear this to show support for them.”

Among the frontliners who passed away during the COVID-19 war are Philippine Pediatric Society President Dr. Salvacion “Sally” Gatchalian, Pampanga health chief Dr. Marcelo Jaochico, cardiologist and internist Raul Jara, young cardiologist Israel Bactol of the Philippine Heart Center, anesthesiologist Gregorio Macasaet III of Manila Doctors Hospital, and oncologist Rose Pulido of the San Juan de Dios Hospital.

Barely an hour later, there is a Viber message from a friend, who is urging us to join a Red Ribbon campaign and show our support for those working in the health sector by tying red ribbons on our gates, cars, etc.

I support efforts to acquire or manufacture more N95 masks and personal protective equipment (PPE) for health workers. These efforts, I think, are directly felt by those who need them most.

Much as I want to, I do not have the funds to help acquire more ventilators for hospitals or provide housing for health workers near the hospitals where they work. But I laud those who can and do.

But I understand why my friend is endorsing the campaign because as she says, “at least it’s something visible for them or their families. We need to support them too with our prayers and by staying home.”

I know that several members of her family work in the frontlines. I discover that many members in a mutual FB group also have daughters, sons, cousins and other relatives who work in the health sector.

I, too, have a brother-in-law, a niece and her husband, and distant relatives who work in the health sector abroad. They will not see the red ribbon on my gate. So I also post it as my profile picture.

It costs me nothing, and it may perk up someone who sees it on my wall or an unknown health worker who lives in my village as he or she passes our gate.

DoH update: As of 4 p.m. of March 27, the Philippines has reported 803 confirmed corona virus cases, including 31 recoveries and 54 deaths.

More lockdowns

(Part of an ongoing account started on March 13, 2020 of how the spread of COVID-19 in our country and our government’s response has affected our lives.)

I have family back in Cebu so I monitor what’s happening in the Queen City of the South.

This morning, I find that during the night, Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia signed Executive Order (EO) 5-N placing Cebu Province under a state of enhanced community quarantine “to allow more stringent measures to be implemented in order to prevent the further spread” of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Before this, the Provincial Government had been trying to avoid a lockdown for economic reasons even as it sought to impose strict control over passengers arriving at airports and seaports to protect the province from the threat of COVID-19.

More measures to restrict movement followed. A curfew, initially imposed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. in all the towns and cities, was later expanded to 24 hours for all students as well as persons aged 65 years old and above.

Mall hours were shortened, cinemas closed, restaurants were restricted from accepting dine-in patrons, people hoarded goods and prices went up, but the threat remained at bay. As long as they observed social or physical distancing, people exempted from the curfew could still move around.

Photo taken from SunStar Cebu FB account

That has changed. Although there is only one confirmed case of COVID-19 in the Province , particularly in Mandaue City, there are a total of nine "presumptive" positive cases in the province: seven in Cebu City and one each in the cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu, according to the Department of Health.

A resolution from the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) states that a province-wide quarantine is advised when there are at least two positive COVID-19 cases from different towns within the province.

The lockdown takes effect in Cebu City on 12 noon of March 28, Lapu-Lapu City on March 28, with the cities of Mandaue and Talisay and the rest of the province following on March 30.

I had hoped and prayed that COVID-19 would not affect any more of my family.  But all this time, I think we all knew it was bound to happen. Certainly, no one is surprised at the turn of events. 

Now, we all wait it out and do what we can to ensure that we and others stay safe during this crisis.

God help us all.

DoH update: As of 4 p.m. of March 26, the Philippines has reported 707 confirmed corona virus cases, including 28 recoveries and 45 deaths.

A Prayer

(Part of an ongoing account started on March 13, 2020 of how the spread of COVID-19 in our country and our government’s response has affected our lives.)

I do not think I can keep this up.

I read more and more posts about health personnel contracting the virus, the infected dying alone, priests who want to minister the last rites but cannot, the lack of face masks and personal protective equipment for those in the frontlines…

I see the number of COVID-related cases climb, knowing this is not even accurate since there is no mass testing.

I see people ignoring the call for social or physical distancing, still milling around in public areas and forcing government to send more men to implement curfews and other quarantine guidelines.

I read about government leaders demanding that they and their families be tested for COVID-19 before those who display the symptoms of having contracted the virus.

I wait for the President to come out on TV after having been granted emergency powers in the hope he finally says something concrete about what he intends to do with it.  He says “thank you” and … nothing else, which is probably why local government units and agencies are once again scrambling to push for their needs and maximize the granting of those emergency powers.

The lack of direction is disheartening and depressing. I will tune out for a while and feed my soul – whether it’s with a book, a movie or continued conversations with family – all within the confines of home.

I am beginning to highlight what’s wrong at the expense of what’s right. There are many stories of good prospering through the efforts of some enlightened and active government leaders; there are many acts of volunteerism and goodwill from all sectors of society. I must not forget that.

So I will step back, but I will continue praying that health workers be protected, that the infected get well and that the poor be given timely and sustained aid and provisions and that everyone will do their part and stay home for the duration of the lockdown.

And yes, I will also be selfish and pray for myself, my family and the people I know and love, and thank God that He continues to protect us.

I hope you do, too.

A Prayer Amid an Epidemic

By Kerry Weber, executive editor of America

Jesus Christ, you traveled through towns and villages “curing every disease and illness.” At your command, the sick were made well. Come to our aid now, in the midst of the global spread of the coronavirus, that we may experience your healing love.

Heal those who are sick with the virus. May they regain their strength and health through quality medical care.

Heal us from our fear, which prevents nations from working together and neighbors from helping one another.

Heal us from our pride, which can make us claim invulnerability to a disease that knows no borders.

Jesus Christ, healer of all, stay by our side in this time of uncertainty and sorrow.

Be with those who have died from the virus. May they be at rest with you in your eternal peace.

Be with the families of those who are sick or have died. As they worry and grieve, defend them from illness and despair. May they know your peace.

Be with the doctors, nurses, researchers and all medical professionals who seek to heal and help those affected and who put themselves at risk in the process. May they know your protection and peace.

Be with the leaders of all nations. Give them the foresight to act with charity and true concern for the well-being of the people they are meant to serve. Give them the wisdom to invest in long-term solutions that will help prepare for or prevent future outbreaks. May they know your peace, as they work together to achieve it on earth.

Whether we are home or abroad, surrounded by many people suffering from this illness or only a few, Jesus Christ, stay with us as we endure and mourn, persist and prepare. In place of our anxiety, give us your peace.

Jesus Christ, heal us.

DoH update: As of this writing, the Philippines has reported 636 confirmed corona virus cases, including 26 recoveries and 38 deaths.

Passing through

(Part of an ongoing account started on March 13, 2020 of how the spread of COVID-19 in our country and our government’s response has affected our lives.)

I got my quarantine pass today.

This means that I am the only one in our household authorized to leave the house to buy food and/or medicine during the quarantine.

There are no debates about whose name goes on the pass. My husband is our sole breadwinner and he is working from home. Also, I have always managed the house and run the household.

Feeling relieved that I finally have something to show should I run into a checkpoint, I decide to go on my first supermarket run since the quarantine.

What do you know. I emerge from the village and run smack into a checkpoint set up just outside the gate on a road that has become unrecognizable. Men in military uniform ask to see my pass. “Mag grocery lang po,” I tell them when asked where I am going.

They let me through and I drive very slowly along a deserted road. All the stores and stalls, save for a very few, are closed. This is the same road I pass almost every day. I have never found it deserted, even during the few times I had to return home from work very late at night.

I see the bakeshop is open, although no one is buying. The drugstore at the end of the street, too. There is no sign of activity.  I see another checkpoint where the road intersects the service road and I roll down my window again to show my pass and to tell the men I am going to the supermarket of a mall nearby.

Before they wave me through, I ask them if I would be allowed to pass through later, after doing the groceries. The man’s hesitation deepens my fear. But he tells me that as long as I have a pass and I am wearing a face mask, it would be no problem.

It is the shortest drive I have ever made to the supermarket. There is very little traffic.  The traffic is inside. I am greeted by a spurt of alcohol at the entrance and a temperature reading before I am led to chairs set a meter apart inside the mall. I am sooooo glad it is going to be a comfortable wait.

Batch by batch, we are sent up to the ground level, where the supermarket is located. When my batch is called, I get quite excited. We pass by a guard who sprays our hands yet again then we are led to chairs set a meter apart in front of the row of cashiers.  Again, our hands are sprayed and I am beginning to think I should not have showered before this, when our batch finally gets called in.

I get almost all items on my list and chat up the cashier and the bagger. I learn that the supermarket closes at 7 p.m., giving the workers just an hour to get home before the 8 p.m. curfew. “Almost all of us leave at 7:30 p.m.,” says the bagger.

Wouldn’t it be better if the mall closed at 6 p.m. then? I ask. The cashier says it certainly would, but immediately says it’s ok. “I am just glad to be working,” she says. The bagger agrees, saying that many of their friends working as cashier, merchandiser, promodiser and utility at the mall’s department store are not as lucky.

On the way home, I pass a smaller supermarket where people are standing in line by the side of the road.

The men stop me at the checkpoint but only to direct me to another road to get to our village. Much relieved, I start to drive away then impulsively pull out a pack of biscuits which I leave with the startled man in uniform. He shouts his thanks and I see his fellow soldiers approach him as I pull away.

It is a good feeling, but I am not planning on making another supermarket run anytime soon. I think I will stick close to home.

DoH update: As of this writing, the Philippines has reported 552 confirmed corona virus cases, including 20 recoveries and 35 deaths.

A Question of trust

(Part of an ongoing account started on March 13, 2020 of how the spread of COVID-19 in our country and our government’s response has affected our lives.)

I do not trust Government so I am leery of Malacañang’s request for Congress to grant the President emergency powers.

I do not see the big picture or the basis for the request. I know the needs are many, particularly from healthcare institutions and workers attending to an increasing number of COVID-19 infected persons, persons under investigation and persons under monitoring on top of those suffering from illnesses that will simply not disappear because there is a pandemic.

I know that as we deepen into the lockdown, barangays and local government units will find it increasingly hard to provide for their constituents, particularly the daily wage earners who can no longer feed their families.

I know that giving the President access to and control of more funds and privately-held resources mean more access to goods and services that can help our country minimize the negative impact of this pandemic.

But I do not know if we can trust a presidency where leaders have themselves and their families prioritized for testing, above those who really need it.

This is the same presidency which has broken so many promises regarding the drug war, the traffic situation and the endo, to name a few.

The is the presidency whose immediate act to flatten the curve is to limit the contagion via a lockdown, without provisions for the health sector – the ones who will be attending to those infected and monitoring those who are suspected of having contracted it -  so that transmission can be effectively monitored, treated and contained.

I do not see the big picture because none has been presented. All I am seeing is a day-to-day response and an Inter-agency Task Force on the management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) that is visible not only during the day, but also late into the night because it is when the President likes to work.

There will be no corruption or abuse, say the sponsors of House Bill 6166 or An Act to Declare the Existence of a National Emergency Arising from the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) Situation. The said bill will be limited in scope and duration, they say.

They say it like they can predict how long we will be under a state of calamity.  They say it like they can speak for the President.  They speak for neither.

DoH update: As of this writing, the Philippines has reported 396 confirmed corona virus cases, including 18 recoveries and 33 deaths.