Let the battle for COVID-19 be a battle of ALL

By: Eloisa Melody C. Reyes –Journalist/ @Jaguar Chronicles

“With self-discipline, anything is possible.” -Theodore Roosevelt

In the face of the current pandemic in the Philippines, every citizen has to put in mind that the battle for COVID-19 is not only the battle of the government nor the battle of all higher authorities and the health workers in the country. The invisible enemy that we are fighting is not easy to defeat; however, if all will cooperate, if everyone knows how to practice self-discipline, then there’s no doubt that we can minimize the transmission of COVID-19.

COVID-19 is defined as a novel form of coronavirus which has spread from its initial identification in Wuhan, China, and has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERSCoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). Unfortunately, this contagious disease has reached the Philippines. The first case in our country was identified on January 30, 2020 and involved a 38-year-old Chinese woman who was confined in San Lazaro Hospital in Metro Manila. In response to this, the Philippines implemented community quarantine in Luzon as well as other parts of the country. The government and also the higher authorities also provided financial assistance for those who really need it. However, the actions done by the different leaders of the country seems to be insufficient for many Filipinos since COVID-19 cases are still increasing rapidly and continue to affect the lives of many. The worst part is that our enemy is invisible which makes it more dangerous to the lives of everyone. So as COVID-19 cases continue to increase, social issue also starts to arise. Some are saying that the government and higher authorities in the Philippines still don’t have enough concrete plans to fight COVID-19 efficiently.

I understand that leaders have a vital part in fighting the pandemic. However, if we are all going to put the burden to them and focus on criticizing every little mistake they do, well I guess we are only adding fuel to the fire. How come that everyone knows how to criticize but lacks a sense of self-discipline? Let’s not make a miserable situation even worse by focusing on the mistakes of other people. In these trying times, may we be reminded of this quote “when we start to work together versus against each other, things might start getting better. “

It’s not only how much monetary dole-out the government can marshal to give the poor and jobless or how much assistance the government can provide distressed businesses that will turn the battle around. What we have to do right now is to be more responsible citizens of this country and take a personal responsibility to fight the pandemic. Remember that how well the individual citizen personally secures himself or herself from infection by wearing a face mask, practicing physical distancing and washing hands frequently will make all the difference in surviving the pandemic. Let’s all be mindful of the fact that this battle for COVID-19 is a battle of ALL citizens in the country.

So, right now, I’m appealing to the people to be part of the battle for COVID-19. Together, we can heal as one.