Vigilance over Panic: Coronavirus as a Global Health Concern

The first case of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV, now COVID-19) in the Philippines was confirmed on January 30, 2020, in a 38-year-old woman who arrived from Wuhan. Two days later, the Philippines recorded the first death outside China on February 1, 2020.

The Philippines government is taking several steps to control the spread of the virus, including travel restrictions, closure of schools and colleges, as well as training schools of the Philippines National Police.

The government announced on February 2, 2020 that all persons except Filipino citizens and permanent resident visa holders were temporarily barred from entering the country. A temporary ban on Filipinos from travelling to China or its special administrative region was also imposed. A mandatory 14-day quarantine for Filipinos returning to from China or its special administrative region was announced. Further, visa-upon-arrival for Chinese nationals has been temporarily suspended. Some educational trips were suspended as well. And now that the coronavirus cases has increased, some classes in Luzon were also suspended.

When the people, especially the students were aware of the virus in our country, they put on surgical facemasks and have always an alcohol or sanitizers with them. Suddenly, the price of the surgical face masks were increased and these were even out of stock. Based from the Sustainable Development Goal #3 – Good health and well-being and Sustainable Development Goal #6 – Clean Water and Sanitation, The Department of Health always gave an information or safety measures regarding the coronavirus outbreak and informed all citizens especially the students to always observe proper hygiene.

•             Wash your hands frequently.

•             Maintain social distancing

•             Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth

•             Practice respiratory hygiene.

•             If you have fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early

•             Stay informed and follow advice given by your healthcare provider

“The virus is here.” If I’d have one peso for every time I hear this phrase I could pay my next semester’s tuition. But it is the reality, it is what it is, the virus has a potential to be a pandemic. Threatening everything we hold dear. The World Health Organization named the disease COVID-19. It is not only our health that is being threatened, but also other factors: like the environment, the economy of our country.

Even as students, we could feel the impact of this phenomenon; everyone has become a little bit more cautious. The cost of protecting ourselves from the virus has gone up these passing weeks. Surgical masks formerly at a box of 50 pieces for P50 became P370. Sanitizers that were once P30-P50 became P70. We were lucky enough that our university has provided sanitizer stations for every entrance and stairwell. But for other people who don’t have the extra money to buy protection against the virus, covering their faces with handkerchiefs would be an immediate solution.

Moreover, the government is doing their best to prevent the virus by having proper dissemination of information regarding the virus and spreading awareness and helping as one community.

And now the issue is still in the Philippines and hopefully it will end soon. Be informed. Be careful. Be alert. Be kind. Be ready to fight COVID-19.

Claire Angeli Menchavez and Freschia Mari Gonzales

AB International Studies

University of San Jose-Recoletos