On community quarantine, 1

BY ELMER FORRO

BAGONG Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan Panay) takes seriously the threat posed by the deadly coronavirus which causes COVID-19 disease that is rapidly spreading throughout the country and in the world. In just four months, the virus has spread in different countries affecting thousands of people. Though many have recovered, the virus is deadly especially to elderlies and those who are suffering from other illnesses.

LACK, LATE GOVT’ RESPONSE

The panic caused by the spread of the virus can be traced back to decades of government’s neglect of the health sector while relying on private health service providers and health insurance at the expense of the people’s taxes.

 According to the Coalition for People’s Right to Health (CPRH), six out of 10 Filipinos die without being given proper medical attention. There is a 1:33,000 doctor to people ratio in the country yet the World Health Organization (WHO) standard is 1:1,000. Only 43 percent of the barangays have health centers. And continued budget cuts on health and lack of facilities especially quarantine facilities and other facilities for infectious diseases.

On the other hand, millions of Filipinos have a lack of access to healthy food, hygiene, and sanitation which makes them vulnerable to the deadly virus.

President Duterte, on the other hand, downplayed the threat of COVID-19 when he did not immediately issue a travel ban from Wuhan City and Hubei province and only took into consideration the negative reaction of China over the protection of its citizen. He did not order immediate massive testing and contact tracing after confirmed cases in the country.

 There are not enough quarantine facilities prepared for the rising numbers of Persons Under Investigation (PUI) and Persons Under Monitoring (PUM), especially isolation rooms and treatment facilities for those that tested positive for the deadly virus. On the other hand, our health professionals are overworked and lack personal protective equipment (PPE) like N95 facemask and hazmat suits.

In this manner, it is no surprise that the virus spreads fast and becomes a threat to the country.

‘LOCKDOWN’ RISKY ANSWER TO COVID-19

Several days after the declaration of local transmission of COVID-19, Duterte’s next step is gearing towards “community quarantine” in the Metro Manila and later on the whole Luzon which focuses on the suspension of classes, prohibits mass gatherings, “social distancing” and to limit the entry and exit of people. It was followed by different cities and provinces in the country.

While we see the worth of this method in controlling the spread of the virus, it is not enough without taking medical action which is more needed to fight the threat of COVID-19. In doing so, the government should:

1) give massive, truthful and timely information on the community level and at a language understandable to the public;

2) ensure enough system and resources to maintain sanitation and disinfection especially on the vulnerable communities;

3) free and massive testing, quarantine and treatment facilities; and

4) orderly contact tracing and monitoring of the sick and suspected ones.

Lastly, it is very dangerous to give the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines the AFP the full power on the implementation of the community quarantine. It will surely fall on simple lockdown and martial law if the civilian authority will not take over. It is open for abuse and human rights violations of the people like what happened in Marawi City and Boracay Island. (To be continued/PN)

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