Easing toward the new normal

The government has announced last week that low-risk areas will soon be placed under a less-stringent general community quarantine.

In Cebu, our agony is prolonged because along with Panay Island, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Central Luzon, and Davao del Norte, our island is still considered high-risk. Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) is here to stay until May 15, which could again be extended.

But that means we still have time to prepare for the gradual reopening of our economy.

My worry is on the so-called low-risk areas, for two reasons. First, without massive, targeted testing in place, how can we say with confidence that an area’s likelihood of virus contamination is low? Second, given that an area is really low-risk, is it prepared to adapt to a new normal sooner than the places considered high-risk?

Given the social disruption and economic hardship this pandemic has brought to our country, I understand why there is so much pressure to resume economic activity. That is why we must roll up our sleeves now to ensure that a good system is in place once we reopen the economy, and that our society is ready to adapt to that system.

Experts warn that once we open up, there is a real risk of a second wave of infection, probably much worse. Thus, they first recommend a reliable and efficient testing regime that could quickly detect a rebound in contamination, and which should be swiftly followed by contact tracing and cluster containment.

The Cebu provincial government is preparing to conduct targeted rapid and massive antibody-based testing, and hopes to start the testing in the next two weeks. It’s different from the laboratory-based molecular testing, but the province promised to work with experts on this type of testing and in analyzing the data from the tests.

Another crucial component of the new normal is a comprehensive set of safety measures to protect the health of people who will be going back to work. Senate Agriculture Committee chairwoman Cynthia Villar, in a report by CNN Philippines, has identified agriculture, manufacturing, and construction as the vital sectors that must be allowed to operate in full swing.

However, alongside the resumption of vital economic activities, employers and workers should realize that there shall be new rules to follow in the new normal. Companies and factories could not just resume operations and continue where they left off prior to this crisis.

Rules must be strictly observed in areas of contact tracing and surveillance, isolation, physical distancing, hygiene, and disinfection. Buildings should be outfitted with the proper ventilation system, and their furniture and floor layouts reorganized.

How about indoor cafeterias and elevators, are these still safe zones? There were tasks that were successfully done at home during the ECQ. After the ECQ, should employers still let those tasks be done at home by employees? Maybe the company can come up with flexible or alternating work schedules.

On the resumption of classes, I believe that unless a vaccine is discovered we should be preparing for the possibility that in-person classes will not resume this year or next year. While there is no better substitute for in-person classes – the personal and nuanced interactions, the meaningful connections – the health risk under the threat of COVID-19 is simply not worth it. Online learning is the only option for now, but that too must be carefully administered. There is well-studied pedagogy for distance education and online learning that must be understood by teachers, students, and school staff.