A welcome news
THE average number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases a day in impoverished Philippines, particularly overcrowded Metropolitan Manila (MM), continues to decline.
In fact, the country may now be classified as “very low risk,” according to OCTA Research, a private group composed mostly of scientists from the University of the Philippines.
Certainly, a welcome news among Filipino Christians as they prepare for the start of the traditional and annual “Simbang Gabi” (Midnight Masses) next week.
“Simbang Gabi,” which starts on December 16, is a devotional nine-day series of masses practiced by Catholics and Aglipayans in the country leading to Christmas Eve.
Earlier, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III of vote-rich Pangasinan said they were not expecting a “post-holiday surge” similar to previous ones that the country had.
And many people share Duque’s view that as long as Filipinos continue to comply with government-decreed minimum health standards, COVID-19 cases may remain low.
Of course, there were suggestions from various quarters, notably traders, that it’s time to relax all quarantine restrictions if we are to address the struggling local economy.
However, other sectors are against the suggestions, explaining that “nandiyan pa rin ang pandemya na pumatay na ng milyun-milyong tao sa buong daigdig.”
Let’s not forget that there’s still no known cure for the dreaded and deadly disease.
Talagang walang masama kung mananatili tayong alerto at mapagmatyag dahil nandiyan pa rin ang pandemya.
