Even amid a sense of normalcy felt by Filipinos these past few months, a lot of us are aware that we are technically under a health pandemic. It is reassuring, therefore, that Filipinos are still practicing health protocols such as the wearing of face masks, physical distancing, and washing of hands. Even with new Covid variants entering our country, new infections are relatively low, as seen in just around a thousand cases this past week. With the low cases, high recovery, and majority of Filipinos fully vaccinated, the country was ranked significantly higher in the Nikkei Asia’s Recovery Index report for May 2022, coming at 33rd out of 121 nations. This ranking was praised by the IATF, with National Task Force Against Covid-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. saying that this is proof of the country’s correct policies in fighting the virus and a move toward the right direction. This 33rd ranking is something to be proud of, said Galvez, since the country usually sits at the bottom half, especially during the last quarter of 2021. "The Philippines’ current position in the Nikkei Asia’s Recovery Index report is a clear indication that the country has found its footing and is now on the path toward recovery from the pandemic," Galvez said, noting that the country moved up 40 spots “due to a consistent decrease in daily Covid-19 cases, averaging below 200 with low to no fatalities in recent weeks.” The report also recognized the country’s easing of restrictions for fully vaccinated international tourists since February 2022 and the recent removal of the negative RT-PCR requirement for foreigners with booster shots. This has effectively lifted tourism arrival numbers and allowed the local tourism industry to experience resurgence and recovery. The country’s commendable Covid management performance can also be attributed to the national government’s aggressive efforts to build an "immunity wall" across the country through the national vaccination program. "This shows that our vaccination program is on the right track, and a testament of the effective implementation of the country’s National Action Plan, which is anchored on the Prevention-Detection-Isolation-Treatment-Reintegration-Vaccination strategy," Galvez noted. He also cited the government’s science-based policies and data-driven decisions that put a premium on public health and the economy. Even with the improvement in our country’s ranking and the seeming return to normalcy as seen in the crowds in malls and buildup of traffic on streets, we are not yet “out of the woods” — for one, wearing of face masks must still be strictly observed until such time that the World Health Organization (WHO) can confidently announce to the whole world to discontinue its use. There is also another area of concern, Galvez revealed, as there are still a number of Filipinos who refuse to be vaccinated even though there was no evidence of vaccine-related illness, incapacity, or death. There is also the low “acceptance” of booster shots even though these are readily available at medical or health centers. We call on our health authorities to devise ways or even to incentivize to encourage Filipinos to take booster shots. As of the moment, vaccination still remains as the most effective shield against any or newer variants of the Covid. Once we can achieve a high rate of booster jabs, the faster we can bring back jobs and industries that have suffered for so long. It is not impossible for our country to reach the likes of Qatar, Cambodia, or the United Arab Emirates (the three countries occupying the top spot in the list, which means they have the best Covid response management) because Filipinos are resilient to challenges, responsive to criticisms, and ready to take the necessary steps to land on the top spot.