The government has identified how to "easily defeat" the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) but National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 chairperson Delfin Lorenzana couldn't help but wonder why Filipinos are still "so afraid" of the unseen enemy.
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Lorenzana argued that the number of people who died due to COVID-19 is lower compared to other diseases such as pneumonia, diabetes, and heart attack.
"Wala itong COVID na ito. This is easily defeated. Takot na takot tayo noon kasi hindi natin alam ang characteristics nitong COVID virus na ito but we found out na very small naman ang namamatay pala eh. Mas marami pang namamatay sa pneumonia at diabetes at heart attack. Maybe 10 to 20 times more. Eh hindi naman tayo takot sa mga sakit na iyon. Why are we so afraid?" Lorenzana said during a visit of the Coordinated Operations to Defeat Epidemic (CODE) Team at the Baguio City Convention Center Saturday to meet with local government officials of the Cordillera Administrtive Region (CAR).
(This COVID-19 is nothing. This is easily defeated. We are so afraid before because we do not know the characteristics of the coronavirus but we found that only a very small percentage (of those infected) died. Those who died of pneumonia, diabetes, and heart attack are higher if compared. Maybe 10 to 20 times more. We re not afraid of those diseases. Why are we so afraid (of COVID-19)?)
Last Sept. 15, NTF chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. said that among the Top 10 causes of deaths in the country include non-COVID diseases such as heart ailments, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes which went by tens to hundreds of thousands.
Lorenzana also said that the rate of COVID-19 transmission in public transportation was "very small," citing "studies from all over the world."
"Walang nag-uusap diyan (Nobody speaks there). In areas where people talk to each other, iyon ang delikado (that's what's dangerous). Also while eating, smoking, and in conferences," Lorenzana said.
President Duterte recently retained the one-meter distancing in public transportation after the Department of Transportation (DOTr) initially decided to reduce it to 0.75 meters to accommodate more passengers.
Lorenzana said that the country should start easing up its quarantine restrictions while local government units (LGUs) continue to strictly enforce the established health protocols to enable the economy to bounce back.
"It's about time to loosen up little by little for as long as we follow these health protocols: The wearing of face mask, face shield, handwashing, and sanitizing. Avoid closed areas with so many people, and closed areas with aircon," Lorenzana said.