2.

What is the level of knowledge, attitude, and practices of the respondents during

the COVID-19 pandemic?

Table 2 presents the frequency and percentage distribution of the levels of

Knowledge of the respondents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Table 2.1

Frequency and Percentage Distribution Table of the respondents as to their level of

Knowledge

Table 2.1.1 I have heard about COVID-19

YES (40) 100.0%

NO (0) 0.0%

0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0% 80.0% 90.0% 100.0%

As seen in Table 2.1.1, there is a total of 100% of study participants who said YES

and 0% who said NO. The pandemic of COVID-19 has impacted negatively on the global
economy. Some countries have been severely affected than others. It began with a few

deaths in Wuhan, China, with the first case being registered on November 17, 2019. It

had already been a full-fledged epidemic by December 31, 2019, when Chinese

authorities first announced it to the World Health Organization (WHO). The virus took

different amounts of time to cross the borders of different countries after the outbreak in

Wuhan, depending on various factors such as connectivity and proximity to the Chinese

city. Within countries, the virus spread at different rates depending on a variety of factors

such as group cultural and behavioral responses, population density, and average

household size, among others (Brahma et al., 2020).

The COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is part of the global coronavirus disease

pandemic of 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by the coronavirus 2 that causes

extreme acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2). On January 30, 2020, the first case

in the Philippines was discovered, involving a 38-year-old Chinese woman who was

being held at San Lazaro Hospital in Metro Manila. A posthumous test result from a 44-

year-old Chinese man came back positive for the virus on February 1, making the

Philippines the first country outside of China to have a confirmed death from the disease.

The Philippines announced its first local transmission on March 7, 2020, after more than

a month without documenting any events. Since then, the virus has spread throughout

the world, with at least one case reported in each of the country's 81 provinces.

Lockdowns, also known as community quarantines, have been in place around the

country since March 15, 2020, in an effort to contain the virus's spread. The enhanced

community quarantine in Luzon was the most significant of these initiatives (Ramzy &
May., 2020). This is verified by the results of the study, which indicate that majority

(100%) of the study participants said that they have heard about COVID-19.

Table 2.1.2: COVID-19 is a contagious disease

YES (40) 100.0%

NO (0) 0.0%

0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0% 80.0% 90.0% 100.0%

As shown in Table 2.1.2, there is a total of 100% of study participants who said YES

and 0% who said NO. COVID-19 is a highly infectious pathogenic viral infection that

began in December 2019 in China's Wuhan seafood wholesale market and quickly

spread around the world due to onward transmission. This latest epidemic of novel

coronavirus (NCoV) was thought to have originated in bats and was causing respiratory

infections in humans, including the common cold, dry cough, fever, headache, dyspnea,

pneumonia, and eventually Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Human-to-

human transmission of this widespread zoonotic virus has resulted in nearly 83  cases in
213 countries and territories, with 4,50,686 deaths as of June 19, 2020 (Mohapatra et al.,

2020).

In response to this public health emergency, the Department of Health determined

that the COVID-19 should be added to the country's list of notifiable diseases. The aim of

this initiative is to protect the public's health. COVID-19 should be reported as a public

health issue and should be reported in a mandatory manner. This issuance will be used

to develop and ensure that disease surveillance measures are efficient and successful in

the national response. Under the Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARD)

surveillance system, a notification mechanism for COVID-19 will be created. The data

created by this system will serve as the foundation for developing prevention and control

strategies. (DOH, 2020). This is confirmed by the results of the study, which indicate that

majority (100%) of the study participants said that they stated that COVID-19 is

contagious disease.
 YES (23) 57.5%

NO (17) 42.5%

0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0% 80.0% 90.0% 100.0%

Table 2.1.3: If I suspect that I have been infected with COVID-19, I will take my
temperature.

As manifested in Table 2.1.3, there is a total of 57.5% of study participants who said

YES and 42.5% who said NO. Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-2019) has been

declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health

Organization. The number of cases imported into other countries has increased since its

discovery in late December 2019 in Wuhan, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China,

and the epidemiological map is rapidly evolving. Body temperature screening (fever) is,

on the other hand, the most common test conducted at points of entry, such as airports,

on returning travelers in most countries with minimal resources (Bwire & Paulo, 2020).

Fever is seen as a physiological reaction in 42.8% of COVID-19 patients at the time

of admission and 88.7% of COVID-19 patients at the time of hospitalization. While fever

is the most common symptom in COVID-19 patients, the absence of fever at the time of

initial screening does not rule out COVID-19 infection. Despite the fact that the median
period of fever in SARS-CoV-1 patients was equivalent to that of COVID-19 patients

(11.4 ± 6.8 days), the basal pattern of fever – characterized by recurrence of fever in the

second week was only observed in SARS-CoV-1 pneumonia, not COVID-19 pneumonia.

The length of fever in MERS and other corona viruses was shorter, with a median of 8

days (range 0–54 days) for MERS. Taking the evolutionary and physiological evidence

into account, further clinical research is needed to establish the prognostic significance of

fever in the viral and inflammatory phases, as well as the use of antipyretics in different

stages of COVID-19 infection, and their effect on viral shedding and symptom length.

COVID-19's response to ambient temperature should also be investigated further (Htun &

Inayat, 2020). This is asserted by the results of the study, which indicate that majority

(57.5%) of the study participants said that if suspected of infection of COVID-19, they

would take their temperature.

YES (6) 15.0%

NO (34) 85.0%

0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0% 80.0% 90.0% 100.0%

Table 2.1.4: In suspecting infection with COVID-19, I should visit a physician.

 As acknowledged in Table 2.1.4, there is a total of 15% of study participants who

said YES and 85% who said NO. People are constantly taking extra care in maintaining

their health and hygiene as the coronavirus epidemic worsens. As a result of the global

pandemic, some schools and businesses have shifted to online learning or asked

workers to operate from home. However, if one is suspected of having covid-19 or are

experiencing symptoms, he/she can contact the doctor or schedule an appointment with

them for further examination. If anyone experience some of the key symptoms and have

been in close contact with an infected person or recently traveled to a region where

COVID-19 is common, the CDC suggests seeing a doctor. If a person has serious illness

symptoms (such as a high or extremely low body temperature, shortness of breath,

exhaustion, or the sensation of passing out) and is considered high-risk, he or she should

seek medical attention in an emergency room. Before visiting a doctor's office or an

emergency department, the CDC recommends calling ahead. Inform them of the

symptoms and recent travels so that they can be ready for the arrival. To prevent

infecting anyone, clients might be asked to wear a face mask (Migala, 2020).

Concerns regarding COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus that has

caused the global pandemic, have led to fewer people attending medical appointments or

seeking medical care, according to the media. Also, severe health issues including heart

attacks, strokes, and acute appendicitis are seeing fewer patients in emergency rooms

around the world. Doctors warn, however, that delaying treatment for life-threatening

conditions may be riskier than contracting the current coronavirus. It has been reported

that the number of patients has decreased by 20% to 30% in recent years. This is
because people are attempting to maintain physical distance to prevent unwanted

publicity, such as going to the supermarket. However, providers of medical care are

concerned, because ignoring severe signs and symptoms can be dangerous (Solomon &

Hasselfeld, 2020). This is expressed by the results of the study, which indicate that

majority (85%) of the study participants said that if suspected of infection of COVID-19,

they would not visit or consult with their physician.

YES (40) 100.0%

NO (0) 0.0%

0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0% 80.0% 90.0% 100.0%

Table 2.1.5: To avoid contracting COVID-19, I avoid contact with individuals

suspected to be infected with COVID-19.

As indicated in Table 2.1.5, there is a total of 100% of study participants who said

YES and 0% who said NO. The coronavirus is primarily transmitted from one person to
another. This can happen when people are in close proximity to each other. Droplets

created by an infected person coughing or sneezing can land in the mouths or noses of

nearby people, or be inhaled into their lungs. Even if there are no signs, a person

infected with coronavirus will produce aerosols when they speak or breathe. Aerosols are

contagious viral particles that can float or drift for up to three hours in the air. Through

inhaling these aerosols, another individual may become infected with the coronavirus.

This is why, when going out in public, everybody should wear a mask. Communication

with polluted surfaces or structures is thought to pose a low risk of transmission.

According to the CDC, each contact with a contaminated surface has a risk of causing an

infection of less than 1 in 10,000 (Harvard Health Publishing, 2021).

The latest strategy for limiting the spread of cases is to take preventive steps. To

prevent further spread, early screening, diagnosis, isolation, and treatment are needed.

The most important technique for the public to follow is to wash their hands regularly, use

portable hand sanitizer, and avoid touching their face or mouth after coming into contact

with a potentially contaminated site. Individuals should be recommended to wash their

hands often, exercise respiratory hygiene (i.e., cover their cough), and avoid crowds and

close contact with sick people as often as possible to reduce the risk of infection in the

environment (Güner et al., 2020). This is evident in the results of the study, which

indicate that majority (100%) of the study participants said that to avoid contracting

COVID-19, they would avoid contact with individuals suspected to be infected with

COVID-19.
 YES (35) 87.5%

NO (5) 12.5%

0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0% 80.0% 90.0% 100.0%

Table 2.1.6: The prevalence of COVID-19 disease is increasing in the Philippines.

As indicated in Table 2.1.6, there is a total of 87.5% of study participants who said

YES and 12.5% who said NO. Despite implementing Southeast Asia's longest and most

intense quarantine, coronavirus cases in the Philippines have now risen to become the

region's largest outbreak. It's yet another example of how weakening restrictions too

soon has allowed the virus to resurface even stronger, as shown by the new waves of

infection currently sweeping Asia and parts of Europe. The virus's emergence in the

Philippines was fueled by research blunders and quarantine protocol failures in the face

of over 100,000 overseas workers returning home after losing their jobs in other

countries. The Philippines reopened its capital after a strict lockdown that lasted from

mid-March to the end of May, despite the fact that new cases were still coming in by the

thousands every day. Infections increased by 500 percent in the two months before the
government re-imposed the lockdown this week, when citizens returned to work and

families reunited. However, the Department of Health said in a statement that the

increasing number of cases is partly due to increased surveillance and testing, which is

now the highest in Southeast Asia (Bloomberg, 2020).

Due to an increase in COVID-19 incidents, the Philippine government has declared

a one-week strict lockdown in Manila and many neighboring provinces. The latest

restrictions come after the nation implemented one of the world's strictest and longest

lockdowns in its capital city more than a year ago. Both the COVID-19 variants first found

in South Africa and the United Kingdom, which spread more quickly, have been detected

in the Philippines. The Philippines' health ministry confirmed 9,595 new coronavirus

cases, the second consecutive day of over 9,000 new infections. The number of active

COVID-19 cases in the country has reached 118,122, the highest number since the

pandemic started. More than 712,000 COVID-19 cases have been reported in the world,

with nearly half of them occurring in the capital region, and more than 13,000 people

have died as a result of the virus (Aspinwall, 2021). This is apparent on the results of the

study that the majority (87.5%) of the study participants stated that the prevalence of

COVID-19 disease is increasing in the Philippines.

 YES (32) 80.0%

NO (8) 20.0%

0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0% 80.0% 90.0% 100.0%
Table 2.1.7: Washing hands with water and soap can eliminate the cause of the
disease.

As implied in Table 2.1.7, there is a total of 80% of study participants who said YES

and 20% who said NO. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO worked with international

health partners such as UNICEF, UNIDO, UNFPA, IOM, OCHA, and UNHCR to

help raise awareness about the value of hand hygiene and integrated waste

management in order to reduce risk behaviors. The value of handwashing with soap to

prevent the spread of COVID-19 has been overlooked during the outbreak. The Global

Handwashing Day, which takes place on October 15, was created by the Global

Handwashing partners as a way to come up with new ways to motivate people to wash

their hands with soap at important times. Despite the campaign's successes, there is still

more work to be done to raise awareness. The value of handwashing with soap as a

simple, reliable, and inexpensive way to prevent diseases and save lives is highlighted

on Global Handwashing Day (WHO Nigeria 2020).

 COVID-19 has swept the globe, leaving almost no area unaffected. Due to the rapid

spread of COVID-19 and the alarming death rates, many countries and authorities have

implemented prevention measures, with handwashing featuring prominently in all of

them. During the COVID-19 pandemic, handwashing has gained a lot of coverage. It's a

straightforward primary preventive measure that most people will carry out on their own.

Handwashing for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, or the use of alcohol-based

hand sanitizers when soap and water are unavailable, is the first line of defense in

preventing the spread of infection. Microorganisms are transmitted primarily through the

hands. When people neglect to wash their hands properly, these species will spread to

other people. There have been almost constant awareness campaigns to promote

handwashing among health service staff, patients, and visitors within healthcare systems

and facilities. During the current COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an emphasis on

handwashing education and awareness directed at both health care workers and the

general public. There has been a proliferation of public health messages regarding the

value of handwashing and proper handwashing methods from different outlets. Memes

and short videos aimed at reaching people on their mobile devices, as well as via social

media, are being used, as are traditional television, radio, print advertisements, and

billboards, all with the same message: good handwashing is critical to preventing the

spread of COVID-19. The value of handwashing is now regularly seen on daily news

stories, in addition to a larger presence on social media sites and other advertising

channels, as service users, politicians, public figures, and others take on handwashing

initiatives. Greater and more common attempts to raise handwashing awareness, as well

as a noticeable rise in people speaking up and discussing the importance of

handwashing, are commendable (Alzyood, 2020). This is discerned on the results of the

study that the majority (80%) of the study participants stated washing hands with water

and soap can eliminate the cause of the disease.

YES (30) 75.0%

NO (10) 25.0%

0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0% 80.0% 90.0% 100.0%

Table 2.1.8: The disease is more dangerous in old individuals.

As implied in Table 2.1.8, there is a total of 75% of study participants who said YES

and 25% who said NO. For every 1,000 people infected with the coronavirus who are

under the age of 50, almost none will die. Around five people in their fifties and early

sixties will die, with men outnumbering women. As time passes, the risk increases

dramatically. Around 116 people in their mid-seventies or older will die for every 1,000

infected. These are the startling findings of some of the first comprehensive research on
COVID-19's mortality risk. Trends in coronavirus deaths by age have been clear since

early in the pandemic. Research teams looking at the presence of antibodies against

SARS-CoV-2 in people in the general population. Since the beginning of the pandemic,

there have been strong trends in coronavirus deaths by age. Antibodies to SARS-CoV-2

are being investigated by research teams in the general population. COVID-19 is not only

dangerous for the elderly, but also for people in their mid-fifties, sixties, and seventies.

For a 60-year-old, having COVID-19 is predicted to be more than 50 times more likely to

be fatal than driving a vehicle (Mallapaty, 2020).

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges and posed a

disproportionate threat to humanity, especially to older adults, affecting their lives,

relationships, and well-being directly. Despite the fact that COVID-19 has resulted in

dramatic societal shifts, older adults' perceptions of spending the remainder of their lives

in an aged care facility have not improved. When they learned about COVID-19, some

people developed a fear of dying and had no confidence in their ability to survive the

pandemic. Caregivers must provide the appropriate care and support by serving as a

dependable source of support, services, and security to ensure the residents' safety.

This does provide useful insight into the lived ambivalences and ambiguities about a

variety of issues, such as increased confusion about what lies ahead, limited transition

space, restricted mobility, loss of personal space that was diminished during COVID-19,

and not being allowed to leave the aged care home. COVID-19 will undoubtedly have a

huge impact on the aged care industry, and the impact will be far-reaching, with certain

effects that have yet to be discovered. Many people had lived a long life and saw
identical external manifestations of the COVID-19 pandemic as being directly linked to

their victorious survival of WWII. The underlying message was that older adults hoped

that the pandemic would pass and that they would recover their independence. In the

event of another global pandemic, future research should continue to explore these

perspectives as a result of the evolving pandemic and create new approaches to support

the health and social effects on older adults (Chee, 2020). This is deemed on the results

of the study that the majority (75%) of the study participants claimed that the disease is

more dangerous in old individuals.

YES (40) 100.0%

NO (0) 0.0%

0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0% 80.0% 90.0% 100.0%

Table 2.1.9: The disease is more dangerous in people with weakened immune
systems.

As observed in Table 2.1.9, there is a total of 100% of study participants who said

YES and 0% who said NO. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new highly
infectious infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which has emerged as a global

public health threat. While the virus's pathogenesis is unknown, there is evidence of a

hyper-inflammatory immune response in critically ill patients, leading to acute respiratory

distress syndrome (ARDS) and multi-organ failure. SARS-CoV-2 affects the immune

system both directly and indirectly, preventing it from being eradicated in its early stages.

Inflammatory cytokines, on the other hand, establish essential conditions that lead to

multi-organ failure. The virus causes a cytokine storm and hyperinflammation in the

immune system, which leads to further multi-organ damage and even death. The COVID-

19 pandemic is now wreaking havoc on people's lives all over the world. Most countries

are now partially closed, stringent travel restrictions have been enforced, foreign ties

have been impacted, and humans are subjected to an unparalleled regime that has

altered everyday life. As a result, it's critical to comprehend disease pathophysiology and

how the immune response to the pathogen affects the disease. Although the immune

system is critical in battling COVID-19, it can also be dangerous. The majority of critically

ill ICU patients who develop ARDS have elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines in

their blood, a condition known as CRS. When the immune system is seriously weakened

and inefficient due to lymphopenia, it appears that it attempts to compensate by

activating the CRS, which could lead to complications such as ARDS and multi-organ

failure. To return to normalcy and lower the mortality rate, effective drugs and vaccines

must be created (Yazdanpanah et al., 2020).

Since immunocompromised people's immune systems are defective or inactive,

they are unable to prevent foreign invaders, such as the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which
causes COVID-19, from invading and colonizing them. People with a weak immune

system are more vulnerable to infection, but some people's extreme symptoms are likely

the result of a massive immune response that covers the entire body. The reasons for

this are numerous, dynamic, and intertwined. A few early studies from hard-hit areas

show how COVID-19 affects immunocompromised people differently in terms of

incidence and severity. The world has been prepared to be concerned about these

people contracting COVID-19 because they are more vulnerable to serious illness from a

variety of viruses that commonly cause respiratory illness, including common colds.

Immunocompromised individuals, on the other hand, do not seem to present with more

serious disease than the general population because the severe illness in COVID-19 is

simply a consequence of excessive immune responses. Although this gives hope that

immunocompromised people may not be in as desperate a situation as expected, it also

raises the possibility that they may slip through the cracks, picking up the virus and

spreading it while asymptomatic. Individuals with compromised immune systems may

also be at risk of succumbing to coronavirus as a result of indirect competition for care

and drugs that allow them to live relatively normal lives (Jones & Vincent, 2020). This is

affirmed on the results of the study that the majority (100%) of the study participants

claimed that the disease is more dangerous in people with weakened immune systems.
 YES (24) 60.0%

NO (16) 40.0%

0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0% 80.0% 90.0% 100.0%
Table 2.1.10: The disease is more dangerous is people with cancer, diabetes, and
chronic respiratory diseases.

As observed in Table 2.1.10, there is a total of 60% of study participants who said

YES and 40% who said NO. As coronavirus cases continue to grow across the world,

healthcare systems will be stretched to their limits in the coming weeks and months.

There is physical as well as social explanations for this. Since older people's immune

systems are weaker, they are more susceptible to infectious disease. They're much more

likely to suffer from illnesses like heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, or kidney

disease, all of which impair the body's ability to combat infection. In certain countries,

they are more likely to be in institutionalized environments, such as a nursing home or a

retirement home, or to be living with family in a more crowded environment, where

infection is more likely. Isolation and mobility issues are common among the elderly. As a

result of their isolation, they are unable to obtain information on what to do or obtain the

food they need if supermarkets are out of stock, making it more difficult. Seniors are
more likely to live in poverty in many countries, making it more difficult for them to obtain

the items they need and to care for themselves. Poverty brings with it many of the health-

related problems (Whiting, 2020).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revised and extended

the list of people who are most likely to contract COVID-19 and cause serious illness.

According to the new results, risk rises with age, not just in people over 65. Those with

chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), obesity (BMI of

30 or higher), an immunocompromised state as a result of an organ transplant, a severe

heart disorder (such as heart failure or coronary artery disease), sickle cell disease, and

type 2 diabetes are at the highest danger. Asthma, high blood pressure, dementia,

stroke, and pregnancy are all disorders that can raise the risk of serious illness.

According to an article in The Scientist, a journal for people in the life sciences industry,

the elderly, as well as people with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory

illness, high blood pressure, and cancer, are the most vulnerable.  According to one

study of 45,000 confirmed cases in China, less than 1% of healthy people who

contracted the COVID-19 virus died as a result of the infection. However, those with

cancer, asthma, or chronic respiratory disorder made up about 6.0 percent of the

population, while those with diabetes made up 7.3 percent, and those with cardiovascular

disease made up 10.5 percent. Patients aged 80 and up were also at higher risk, with

14.8 percent dying (Barnett, 2020). This is demonstrated on the results of the study that

the majority (60%) of the study participants claimed that the disease is more dangerous

is people with cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases.