Are we winning over COVID-19?

Just a week ago, the news about the COVID-19 virus curve in the Philippines being already
flattened spread excitement to citizens all over the country. After the announcement, several people
already started posting in social media the places they would visit or would love exploring soon. Some
people who before did not even have the courage to go out started posting photos of themselves in public
places like groceries, malls, and restaurants. Traffic became heavier on main roads and even buyers on
our local wet market doubled in number. It is quite alarming how people respond to this news as they
immediately became complacent, disregarding rules in safety and health protocols. It is understandable
that most of us being cooped inside our houses for more than half a year are very anxious to go out and
get back to normal - just like how things were used to be. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our
country massively and people are forced to stay inside to avoid exposure to the virus that still has no cure
as we speak. Even for a few who could go out, social distancing must be observed, and face masks and
face shields should be worn outdoors. Commuting became a challenge. Working conditions and
situations became difficult. Studying feels more like working as we stay longer online each day of the
week. People are in search for freedom, a way to breathe, a way to escape the pandemic that is
enveloping the whole world right now.
Being the only country subjected under the longest duration of quarantine, the announcement of
Dr. Guido David of the UP OCTA Research Team last week in CNN gave a glimmer of hope for the
Philippines. He said that we have already flattened the curve of the coronavirus disease (COVID-
19). To prove his point, David cited that the Philippines’ reproduction number is already less than
one percent. He mentioned that we were averaging more than 4,000 cases in the Philippines mid to
late August, which currently went down to 3,000. However, does this really mean we are already
winning over COVID-19?
It is apparent with the way how people reacted after the announcement that we lack education and
information regarding the virus and the terminologies being used regarding this by the experts.
Wikipedia defines flattening the curve as a public health strategy to slow down the spread of the SARS-
CoV-2 virus during the COVID-19 pandemic. The curve being flattened is the epidemic curve, a visual
representation of the number of infected people needing health care over time. During an epidemic, a
health care system can break down when the number of people infected exceeds the capability of the
health care system's ability to take care of them. Flattening the curve means slowing the spread of the
epidemic so that the peak number of people requiring care at a time is reduced, and the health care system
does not exceed its capacity. Flattening the curve relies on mitigation techniques such as social
distancing.
With this information on hand, it could be concluded that though the curve has been flattened, the
virus continues to exist and affect people especially if we do not observe minimum health protocols. The
pandemic is not yet over! The virus is still active and can infect anyone, anytime, and anywhere. People,
especially the vulnerable ones should not risk going outside. Even people who are healthy when careless
could spread the virus to their loved ones unaware that they are asymptomatic. People should not think
that we are already winning against COVID-19.
Secretary Vince Dizon, NTF deputy chief implementer said Monday the public should not be
complacent after experts reported that the country is starting to flatten the curve of the coronavirus
disease (COVID-19). He said the government still needs to intensify its intervention and should be
consistent in imposing all precautionary measures so that we can even lower the confirmed cases and the
spike of cases can be prevented nationwide. The next day after hearing this, COVID-19 cases rose again
to 4,000. It just shows that we are still battling the unseen enemy and I could only agree with Secretary
Dizon that complacency should have no place in our strategy. However, it was also said in the news that
day that social distancing will be reduced from a meter, to half a meter. Standing passengers will be
allowed in commuting to accommodate more people. With these contradicting measures of securing our
safety, I could say that we are far from winning against COVID-19.

Our president is desperately trying to acquire COVID-19 vaccine from Russia and China for the
whole country. Though it seems to be a promising solution to the pandemic, the coronavirus was said to
mutate and render vaccines ineffective. According to CNN Philippines, a mutated strain of COVID-19
was discovered in the Philippines last August 17 and has spread faster than the previous strain. So, what
can we do if we cannot stop COVID-19? As the saying goes, if you cannot beat them, join them.

Maybe it is not a question of winning over the virus. Maybe it is about adapting. Our ancestor’s
way of surviving throughout the centuries is by adapting to the different climate changes and world
calamities. Maybe we should not focus on winning against the virus. Maybe we just have to battle it by
adapting to a new lifestyle and learning to live with the virus all our lives. We have God-given skills to
develop technology that humanity could utilize so that we could continue to go outside and live our lives
while COVID-19 is still on our midst. Our best weapon is in our head. It is what separates us all from
other life forms.

With all that said, it is still important for us to practice minimum health protocols whether we are
flattening the curve, or a vaccine is already on the way or not. Practicing respect and courtesy towards
others would help us manage the outbreak in the country easily. Though we might have to adapt to a new
normal if we cannot stop the virus completely, the most important thing is that we are all alive and always
healthy.