A Critical Event in the Timeline of CoViD-19 in the Philippines

Last 30 January 2020, the DOH or the Department of Health reported the first
case of the novel coronavirus in the Philippines by a 38-year-old female Chinese
national. It was disclosed that the Chinese national was experiencing mild cough and
was confined at San Lazaro Hospital. Beforehand of the event of having the first case in
the country, travel ban was dilatory imposed and since the order at that time was only a
careful check on inbound travellers in airports, this led to gradual mass transmission of
the virus and increased cases and deaths. According to Ferchito Avelino, who is a DOH
Epidemiology Bureau Director, they were working with the Bureau of Quarantine to
distinguish the past flights of the Chinese national and contact tracing the people she
interacted with. In these fast-paced events of the coronavirus in the Philippines, an
immediate response from the government is a must. Within the pandemic, science and
technology had been a great help to us because we can be informed on what is
currently happening. Science and technology helped us continue to achieve education
even though schools are physically closed and lastly, products of science and
technology has greatly affected the economy and people’s lives in terms of earning
money.

Knowing that the virus is severely infectious, the Philippine government should
have implemented an early travel ban not just to people from mainland China but also to
other countries as well. The nature of the COVID-19 virus is it can be transmitted by
contact, droplets and fluids from an infected person. Data for COVID-19 suggests that
infections that are mild or asymptomatic is at 80% while severe infections are at 15%
and critical infections is at 5%. With this data, 80% of asymptomatic infections have a
higher chance of infecting people. Imposing early travel bans from countries as an
immediate action for response to the growing spread of coronavirus should have been
done.

For the government, they should also hear our fellow Filipino people out on what
they are trying to voice out. Mass testing should be implemented because it prioritizes
the people who needs it despite of their social status in the society. Mass testing is the
most accurate way of determining asymptomatic cases if they will develop into
symptomatic cases in the future therefore, departments like DOH, should have
beforehand prepared on imposing it. They should recalibrate their response to COVID-
19 and start prioritizing the frontliners because they are the ones treating the virus
directly and raising the recoveries of the country.

In terms of education, from the first case of COVID-19 in the Philippines and the
growing transmission, this has started a worry to schools and students to whether
continue education within the pandemic. DepEd and universities adjusted to the new
normal of education. They learned that online classes (synchronous and asynchronous
classes) can be implemented within the pandemic to ensure continuous quality
education to students. Unfortunately, some students do not have access to online
learning materials such as laptops, tablets, Wi-Fi and electricity. Mayors and schools in
regions recognized the issue and started funding and distributing online learning
materials to students who needs it. Even celebrities and artists in the country noticed
the issue in online education and started donating materials to students.

As individuals who experience difficulties in these recent times, we can learn that
health is much more important than material things. This pandemic has been a
challenge on influencing people to help each other in terms of needs and encouraging
each other to keep safe. It is very important to be informed about the virus. Being a well-
informed citizen can affect so much greatly to other people by helping to prevent
yourself and others from contracting the virus. Numerous people have lost their jobs
and some were forced to switch to work from home within this pandemic therefore they
created ways to earn money by using science and technology to create online
businesses where they can sell items such as food, clothes, etc to other people.

From the first case in the Philippines, to people being informed of the virus and
creating creative ways to combat lack of financial security, science and technology has
done a great impact on us. Science and technology can affect the decisions of political
and departmental figures such as President Duterte in terms of imposing travel ban due
to the information about the virus in Wuhan, DOH which they should implement mass
testing and DepEd for implementing online classes. Overall, we can learn from the
event that being informative and having early response is a must so that effective and
efficient plans can be carefully thought and made advance for the sake of the health
and safety of the people.

References:

Gregorio, X. (2020, January 30). Philippines confirms first case of novel coronavirus.
Retrieved September 10, 2020, from
https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/1/30/Philippines-coronavirus-case.html

Sapalo, N. (2020, July 08). Mayors are keeping the Philippines afloat as Duterte's
COVID-19 response flails. Retrieved September 09, 2020, from
https://www.newmandala.org/mayors-are-keeping-the-phillippines-afloat-as-dutertes-
covid-19-response-flails/

WHO Team: Department of Communications. (2020, March 17). Q&A: Influenza and
COVID-19 - similarities and differences. Retrieved September 10, 2020, from
https://www.who.int/westernpacific/news/q-a-detail/q-a-similarities-and-differences-
covid-19-and-influenza