It is almost two years ago that specific areas in the Philippines were put on lockdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic. We can remember the uncertainty as we heard the first announcements that classes would be suspended, or that offices would be closed, or that public transportation would stop running.
Not much information was yet available in dealing with the virus. We were not sure if it thrived on surfaces. Suggested “remedies” made the rounds of social media. Supplies of face masks, alcohol and disinfectants dwindled. Vaccines were just a dream.
Over the next few months, we saw the number of cases rise and fall. We heard many stories of heroism, but also of incompetence and abuse of power.
At the beginning of this month, we found ourselves down to Alert Level 1, which is perhaps the closest to “normal” we have ever gotten in two years. Some schools are reopening, offices are stopping work-from-home arrangements, malls and restaurants are seeing activity, and traffic is bad again.
Certainly it is no cause for rejoicing. Across the globe, the death toll has surpassed 6 million. These are people who could still be with their families. More than 450 million have been sickened. Economies have been battered and are still trying to recover.
Two years hence, the lessons are many. The pandemic has exposed gaps in our health care system, and in our system of governance. It has shown us the instincts of our leaders and the ability of some people to take advantage of others during a crisis. It has allowed us to see who were inclined to defy odds to extend help to others. We had a preview of how our leaders make decisions during difficult times.
We are told COVID is not yet going away. We are no longer stopping our way of life waiting for it to be extinguished. We will continue to live with the threat of the virus while we deal with other menaces as well – countries invading their smaller neighbors, politicians courting our votes, businesses staying afloat and people toiling to survive.
Two years hence, we cannot yet say we are all the better for our COVID experience. Too much has been lost. The least we can do is learn our lessons well.
