"Stay home, please."
"Stay home, please."
We are in the midst of a crisis. The entire Luzon island is on enhanced community quarantine until midnight of April 13, Monday. The Department of Health has earlier raised Code Red Sublevel 2 response due to the increasing confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country. The number of patients infected with the coronavirus has already reached more than 200.
First and foremost, we understand the risks posed by COVID-19. There have been deaths from the disease, but there are also who have recovered. Still, we cannot let the number of infected persons rise. We need to immediately stop the transmission of the disease. For this reason, the government has implemented a strict home quarantine. By this, it means that no one is allowed to go out, and no public utility vehicle is allowed to roam the streets. Ordering people to stay in their homes lessens the chances of virus transmission.
This is with the exception of health workers and those who work and operate private establishments that provide basic necessities such as food and medicine. These establishments shall remain open to ensure the availability of these goods. People may still buy from them as long as they maintain social distancing and proper hygiene.
In preparation for COVID-19, the provincial government earlier formed the Quezon Provincial Inter-agency COVID-19 Task Force that has been actively monitoring the number of confirmed cases, persons under investigation and persons under monitoring. The task force is continuously assessing the situation in Quezon to come up with responsive guidelines and policies that will be followed to safeguard the welfare of the Quezonians. Our Provincial Health Office has also been diligently conducting surveillance and reporting of the status of the patients under investigation in the entire Quezon province to ensure that our people are well-informed on the accurate health situation in the province.
Moreover, we have made efforts to make sure that the delivery of goods and other essential emergency medicines and supplies are not impeded, slowed down, or interfered. In the same way, our local farmers are guaranteed of continuous assistance to maintain their supply for food production.
I cannot emphasize that we need to strictly abide by the guidelines. As we monitor the developments and assess the situation not only in the province but also in Metro Manila, it is inevitable that certain guidelines will be updated to contain the appropriate steps to take by both the citizenry and the government. I highly encourage everyone to listen and understand the reasons behind the policies being implemented. This is not only for the sake of one, but for the benefit of all. By following the guidelines, we, as a community protect each other by decreasing the chances of getting the virus. With this, I seek the compassion of employers to extend financial help to their employees who will be forced to stay in quarantine pursuant to the President's declaration.
At this point, I would like to thank our hardworking health professionals nationwide—the doctors, nurses, those from the allied health professions, and our barangay health workers, for your unparalleled dedication and persevering service to our fellow Filipinos. You have chosen a truly noble career. I also thank our workers in the food and medicine production, and also those volunteers who help ensure that basic necessities are available to everyone anytime. Thanks also to the municipal social workers, barangay frontliners, and ordinary citizens who take it upon themselves to monitor their communities.
I highly encourage the people to give their support by following the guidelines set by the enhanced community quarantine. For those who have no symptoms, no contact with any known case, or no travel history to affected areas, let us avoid getting infected by remaining in quarantine for the meantime. Perhaps this may be the opportunity to give time to our families and loved ones, catch up with whatever we need to do, and rest. Those who have been in contact with a confirmed positive COVID-19 case and those coming from COVID-19 positive areas must comply with the mandatory strict self-quarantine. While those who show symptoms, I strongly urge you to go to the nearest hospital to have yourself checked.
We need to educate the people on what to do during this health crisis. The national government has already assured us that it has funds that will be used in the delivery of basic goods and services. More test kits are arriving in the country soon. Foreign scientists are already working on a vaccine against COVID-19. Our contribution now is our cooperation. Be vigilant. If there is someone who should be monitored and investigated by local health authorities, let them know immediately. Other countries such as South Korea are reporting an increasing number of recoveries. Let us keep praying for our country, that we may be able to get through this crisis immediately, with only minimal losses. Let us remain hopeful that we will be able to overcome this together, healthy and happy, and return to normal living in no time.
