24 April
As the number of COVID-19 cases reached 132 on Thursday, the Union Government extended its enforcement of COVID-19 containment measures until mid-May, including the Stay-At-Home order and social distancing.
Our country, like most countries throughout the world, is still going through the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, though some countries that were affected early in the pandemic are now starting to see a resurgence in the number of cases, believed to be the second wave of infections. Still, no country has won the battle with the global pandemic.
We cannot know how many people are to be infected and how deadly the disease is, or when it will be safe for our people to return to work and resume their normal day-to-day activities.
Many challenges are waiting for us. Migrant workers are waiting to return home through the border gates, even as the spread of the virus is occurring within the country.
With factories closed, thousands of workers have lost their jobs, as the virus crisis strikes the least privileged the hardest.
Meanwhile, we need to prepare for more challenging outbreaks in the coming months, should the COVID-19 virus be mixed with seasonal flu infections.
We understand that our people, abiding by the stay-at-home orders, are frustrated by weeks of confinement and anxiety about the infection.
This COVID-19 crisis, which can be viewed as a long-distance run, is a great test of our stamina.
No doubt, our stamina and strength will decide whether we will win this long war against this dreaded disease. In this hour of need, our people’s stamina and strength will take us to victory.
At the same time, it is important to systematically use the strength of the people, including frontline warriors, such as health workers and volunteers, while igniting our stamina and cooperative spirit.
If all hands from the governmental and private sectors are on deck to effectively carry out preventive and treatment measures in the coming months, we can effectively minimize the impact from the COVID-19 pandemic.
People are urged to follow public health guidelines, as the authorities are enforcing these rules to keep the entire public safe.
Today is a time when we all should have more sympathy and understanding, as the pandemic does not seem to be going away any time soon.
Cooperation is critical to save lives and implement solutions. We need more of it.
GNLM
