Like it or not

The independent research group OCTA noticed a slight uptrend in COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region, with a spike in three cities. This as the IATF-EID is getting ready to put NCR and other cities under an even more relaxed Modified General Community Quarantine by March. The cities that showed a spike are Pasay, Malabon, and Navotas. Pasay has responded by putting 33 villages under a two-week lockdown. According to the spokesperson of the DOH, the economy must now be considered after over a year of strict lockdowns and quarantines, hence the move to put Metro Manila under an MGCQ.

This leaves all local government units on their own in dealing with whatever increase or spike that results from the relaxed classification. But the question is, can the LGUs handle an increase in positive cases? If the mayors voted to place the metro under MGCQ, then they should be prepared in the event a spike does occur. The wearing of masks and face shields should be mandatory when stepping out of the house and going to public places. As for physical distancing, there is no question it helps prevent the spread of the virus but in reality is very hard to enforce, especially for the bigger establishments.

I am thankful we do not have the anti-maskers we see on YouTube, particularly Americans. I don't get why there are groups that go around mocking those who wear face masks in public, even pretending to "die" in a comical manner. If they don't want to wear a mask that is entirely up to them but to mock or even accost those that do is just ridiculous.

What we do have here are the "anti-vaxxers" or those against receiving a vaccine. Vaccine trust is still low especially from the country this administration simply reveres. LGUs had to move on their own in securing vaccines for their population. They chose the AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccines which speak volumes, but they still had to clear it with the national government. March is fast approaching and we have yet to see a vaccine rollout initially for the frontliners. President Duterte is supposedly getting impatient which should be a cue for the lead agencies to step up, or so the presidential mouthpiece says. As if that is all it takes to get things going, at least under this administration.

Achieving the national target of 70 million people vaccinated may be a tall order especially if receiving vaccines is still up in the air despite the pronouncements of the DOH and several LGUs. Manila Mayor Isko Moreno has already ordered the release of P38.4 million as an advance payment for 800,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. The amount represents 20% of the total payment. I assume the balance is to be paid when the vaccines arrive. Other LGUs would do well to do as much, if possible. Like it or not, a vaccine is what is needed to rid the planet of this virus.