Where are we now in our collective struggle to stem down the spread of the deadly virus? Into the 8th week since being placed on a community-wide health emergency, are we nearing the goal of “flattening the curve” as can be discerned from the numbers globally sweeping to remarkable tallies? Are we in fact ready to be getting out, bit by bit, from the lethal peril that has shut us out from the once normal, now being talked about as the new normal?
A global overview of the pandemic’s impact , as released publicly online by END CORONAVIRUS.org gives us a front graphic view into the level, quality, and pace of progress that countries have done. In so telling a scenario, the countries were categorized into three rows — winning, nearly there, and needing action. All told, the message is crystal-clear: Some are winning, some are now.
Where is the Philippines arrayed, 7 horrible weeks since the outbreak? On the Winning Side, Cambodia and China, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam are just about the only Asian nations that have posted significant strides to stem the viral onslaught. Three of these are Asean neighbors, making us in dear ‘Pinas reel in sheer envy, but still hopeful that we’re in the next row of the Nearly There countries.
Nowhere in that row too, as only Japan and Malaysia are. Ergo, dear Philippines is in the third row of Needing Action countries, still struggling, still exerting, still racing to get things going and going great.
This is not to say that we’re failing in miserable more ways than one. Well, it simply tells us that we’re not achieving the good numbers that should upgrade us to being Nearly There and ultimately to being on the Winning row. If that were so, it clearly brings us to bear the burden much further and farther than we think. It’s a bunch of miles away, down the road to redemption.
As of May 7th, going into the final week when the quarantine restrictions are either eased up or heightened, the tally continues its northside climb — 10,343 total cases, 685 deaths, and 1,618 recoveries. Health authorities are seeing some gladsome signs: the recoveries are doubling up vis-avis the fatalities. Too, the rising count of cases recorded seem to show a hint of slowing down process in terms of infection. Some assurances, there.
Up hereabouts in Baguio, the good news is the viral spread would seem to have been in check. From a week ago of 30 confirmed cases, no new ones have been detected, no other fatality has taken place (except for that solitary soul who perished early on), and recoveries have gone further up in a ceaseless momentum.
Could this be the breakthrough that will get us through? Since, we’ve more or less held down what could have been worse, are we in fact progressing so considerably that we’re just about to leap into a degraded kind of quarantine? Arguably, over a thousand individuals are still being monitored to this day in varied ways of self-quarantine, indicating that the virus may still be in there in significant number of human bodies, replicating fast enough to inflict further danger in a small community like ours. Something to guide us by when we do make the gigantic leap.
Arguably, Baguio seems to be succeeding in its herculean effort to keep the people generally out of harm, to keep everyone singularly well-protected. Of course, anytime of day, we should take this small triumph for what it is — as further encouragement to prod us through, to energize us into greater action to keep the pressure on the dreaded disease.
Even as early as three weeks back, when the city teethered on the edge of ECQ and GCQ, there had been much hope that the quality of strategies undertaken has been effectively contending with the cornavirus. In more ways than one, we have demonstrated a sense of self-discipline we though all along wasn’t there anymore. We have shown the world that by the united spirit embedded in our inner core as a people, we can uncomplainingly march into a unique war against an unseen enemy. Despite the restrictions, we went on with our life, even jestingly breaking through the harsh routine by pedestrian acts made to cheer avid listeners. Despite the extraordinary times we live in, being restrained from our usual liberties, we abided through extraordinary ways of simple sacrifices of saving, not just ourselves but others just as well.
When the time is here and now to get back productively into the society we live in, the overarching imperative is to be mindful of the unseen enemy lurking everywhere, to remain extraordinarily vigilant in keeping ourselves and others out of peril. While it has been all about staying healthy and safe, it will be staying more healthy, much safer, and freed of anxieties in the coming days.
Again, that signfies doing things we’ve not been used to doing. That means having to be social by being anti-social, isn’t it? That means greeting each other, not by the high fives we readily break into, but by just the fist-bump, elbow-thud we’ve been seeing of late. That means breaking into friendly smiles held from view because of facemasks half-shielding our good ol’face. That means staying together while staying apart, staying at home while working just the same, staying spirited while without the spirited intoxicants. Tough task?
Of course, these are tough times indeed. In a community like ours, it’s not unlike we’re stranger to such tough times. Our history of more than a hundred years is replete with lessons hard-learned for all the stubborn, nearly hard-headed way we have met and overcome challenges. These serve to inspire us that in time, as in those difficult times, we are ready for the mighty struggle waged to rise above challenges, enough to bring us anew into a new arena, and afresh to rise above this one.
Up and about is how we transition into the next phase of these horrible times. It is said that those who dare and care have greater chances to succeed more than those who remain marooned in safety zones merely shielded from outer assault. At the end, it’s all a matter of wills and won’ts. And how deep the resolve is. Getting back into life is not just about getting back lost opportunities. It’s still a balance delicately but well managed at every turn and twist. Staying healthy while being productive. Staying safe, while saving others.