Back where we started

Eighteen-year-olds and under will not be allowed to come out of their homes for two weeks starting last Wednesday. Mayors of Metro Manila unanimously agreed to the measure due to the high number of positive COVID-19 cases. Some hospitals in Metro Manila have sounded the alarm as to the high number of admitted COVID-19 cases. It seems like we are back in the beginning of this pandemic. The government has ensured that a strict lockdown similar to last year will not be repeated saying that the economy has to get going. But a metro-wide curfew was imposed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. for two weeks. The House is also on lockdown because of several positive cases. I know of other government offices on lockdown because of the same reason. It seems everywhere you go there are initiatives to stem this surge of cases.

I feel sorry for the children who have not been allowed to come out of their homes for a year. They may have enjoyed the forced vacation at first but just like adults, they too suffer from quarantine fatigue. I wouldn't be surprised if they want to see their friends. The type of learning they have to go through is different if not difficult or even questionable. But their safety is paramount in a pandemic.

OCTA warned there could be as many as 11,000 cases per day by the end of March. This is a research group the Palace would prefer to remain quiet especially in issuing statements like this. But more often than not their estimates are spot on. I can’t imagine 11,000 cases a day. The Philippines' world ranking is sure to fall again. The current number of positive cases stands at 635,698. Last June there were less than 20,000 cases and less than a thousand deaths. In just nine months that number has exploded.

There are various opinions as to why the number of cases is increasing but everyone agrees it is because of the opening of the economy where there are more people out of their homes. I don't see any semblance of quarantine when I'm out of the house. There are more cars, there are more people, some at work, others just looking for a reason to get out of the house. The restored curfew may make the nights quieter. There is no argument over all the steps or initiatives the government or the private sector is taking to slow down or even stop the surge. What we need are vaccines. I'm starting to believe Sen. Lacson's prediction of a 2023 timeline to getting back to normal because of the slow rollout of vaccines along with a considerable percentage of mistrust over their use. Let's hope he is proven wrong.