“Be virus barriers not virus carriers”

Without fail, all local multimedia news outlets carry the daily information about COVID-19 cases, especially in locations with alarmingly high numbers.

Are Filipinos even listening?

Do Filipinos understand what the increase in COVID-19 cases mean for all, and most especially, directly for themselves and their households?

Not only the ordinary Filipinos.

What about those in government, in the military? Do they understand their official/personal role in containing or spreading the virus?

COVID-19 researchers and data trackers have been raising alerts/alarms about the rising cases.

Record-high new cases hit 8,019 last March 22 which brought total active cases to 671,792 with 577,850 recoveries and 12,972 deaths. March 24 data showed an increase in active cases to 677,653, with 12, 992 deaths and 578,461.

New cases are high because reproduction number is high. Dr. Guido David of OCTA has not yet lost his voice echoing, reechoing what a reproduction number mean - the higher the reproduction number, the more can be infected by asymptomatic/ symptomatic carriers of the virus.

And those in NCR should seriously heed the call of the researchers and experts. Everyone, especially government, should help contain the virus!

With no one exempted, all are asked to be virus-barriers, not virus-carriers, to borrow the advice of Fr. Orbos during his March 21 Sunday homily.

Is that difficult for each Filipino to do- to exert their personal best effort not to be a virus-carrier?

How?

From Day 1 of this pandemic, the health protocols have been repeated again and again and again. No harm in repeating endlessly these reminders for the unmindful, for those who have ears but do not hear and eyes but do not see: One, wear facemasks and shields and this we need to stress- PROPERLY IN PUBLIC ALWAYS!

How many Filipinos wear their masks to cover their nose, their mouth ALWAYS when they are in public?

Observe those out in the streets, in markets/shops, inside churches and public vehicles, in workplaces. Count those who are wearing their masks and shields properly and consistently while in public.

How many face shields are being used as headbands instead of as cover for their face, nose and mouth? How many face masks are worn below the nose or just hanging from an ear?

Sure, they have their facemasks and shields. But are Filipinos using these correctly, properly and consistently while out of their homes?

Improper and irregular use of facemasks and shields in public has to be immediately called out and addressed seriously so that each one will stop being a carrier!

Two, social distancing should be strictly followed. The virus cannot be transmitted if people practice physical distancing. Again, are Filipinos doing proper and consistent distancing?

Carefully, regularly observe transport drivers and passengers, sellers/buyers, workers/employers, others. Sadly, thousands ignore public distancing daily. No wonder the virus is spreading quickly!

Military generals, government officials, priests, and others who hold high positions are not exempt from these protocols! They are all carriers like all other Filipinos. They and all others should individually be responsible virus barriers!

Stay home if possible. Stay away from infecting others!

If you love your neighbor/others as yourself, then do not be a virus-carrier!

This can be your prayer offering this Lent and beyond! Responsibly follow the health protocols properly and consistently, especially in public!

Until a more responsible government rolls out an effective, systematic vaccination program, the virus will remain active and quickly/rapidly infect- widely assisted by kababayans who ignore their personal responsibility as virus-barriers!

Oh, if only each Filipino understands how they can help by simply being disciplined and responsible virus-barriers through proper/consistent compliance of health protocols especially while they are out, in public.