Nose to the grindstone
We knew it was just a matter of time before a case of 2019 novel Corona virus or 2019-nCov which was first detected in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, is confirmed in the Philippines.
Many people have earlier tried to downplay this health crisis, emphasizing that there has been no confirmed case yet in the country of the 2019-nCov. I know the intention is good; they don’t want people to panic or spread misinformation.
But I’ve been following Singapore-based Channel News Asia these past few days and noticed the significant attention and airtime the media outlet has been giving the 2019-nCov outbreak. That’s why I concluded that the 2019-nCov, though originating and still concentrated in China but already detected in many parts of the world, is a matter of urgent concern.
With the confirmation by our health authorities the other day, social media is stirring itself up into a frenzy of critics over the decision of government to not yet ban the entry of visitors from China in the country.
Some are wondering why our local officials are not yet implementing a ban against visitors from China. But this has been clarified that only the president can impose such ban, and local officials can merely make recommendations to that effect.
Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia even took a step further by ordering a 14-day quarantine for visitors from Hubei in China where Wuhan City, ground zero of the virus, is located. The governor assured that they have already identified three facilities for the quarantine.
I understand where the governor is coming from, considering that it was beyond her to impose a ban but at the same she is mandated to promote the health and safety of the people in the province. For me it’s a decisive and effective step because it actually discourages non-essential visits to Cebu by foreigners coming from suspected outbreak areas.
Then yesterday, President Rodrigo has finally ordered a travel ban against Chinese nationals from Hubei. The challenge there for authorities is how to determine if a visitor who departed from Hong Kong, for example, originated from Hubei. It’s a temporary ban, until the crisis dies down, and should not result in diplomatic repercussions.
I’m sure China would understand, considering that it has itself imposed travel restrictions in at least 10 cities in that country because of the virus outbreak. The World Health Organization has also already declared the virus threat as a global emergency.
In Cebu yesterday, I noticed many people in public places already wearing masks, something I did not observe the previous days. Some call them overacting, others even mock the practice of wearing face masks as ineffective against the virus. We should be thankful that people are now more vigilant.
The fact that people are wearing masks in public shows that they are going about their daily activities as usual but are taking the necessary precautions. In fact, a person who is wearing a mask, but who may be carrying an infection without feeling sick yet, is actually doing everyone else a favor by limiting the chance for him to pass on the infection to others.
A word of advice also to public officials on the receiving end of people’s criticisms, don’t be onion-skinned about what critics are saying and just continue to do your job and focus on what is important at this time. Always have a team of scientists and experts in your crisis committee and listen to what they say. Listen too to opposing voices, but be decisive in your actions.
Being in charge and having command of the resources of government is expectedly a thankless job but for sure it has its own rewards when you’re focused on your job with all sincerity.
I share the view espoused by Nicholas Kristof in his New York Times article entitled “As coronavirus spreads, the world pays for China’s dictatorship.” The first known coronavirus infection in the city of Wuhan presented symptoms beginning on December 1, and by late December there was alarm in Wuhan’s medical circles, Kristof wrote.
“That would have been the moment for the authorities to act decisively. And act decisively they did — not against the virus, but against whistle blowers who were trying to call attention to the public health threat… instead of punishing these doctors, (China’s president) Xi (Jinping) should have listened to them.”
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