It was March 2020 that the country was in quarantine due to Covid-19. Now that it’s 2021, the country still has not flattened the curve, with the number of infected still rising by the day.
Last year, the government mobilized state forces to enforce health protocols with the local government unit (LGU) conducting curfews and lockdowns to minimize the spread of the virus.
The re-opening of the economy by the government was in August 2020. It pushed through even without having a clear plan to address the pandemic, while restrictions relaxed. However, it only resulted in a surge of cases, peaking at 6,958.
Today, the nation has surpassed the one-year mark of being in the pandemic, but the Philippine government once again imposed lockdowns and curfews. The country appears to be back to ground zero.
The country seems stuck in a pandemic loop, and with the government’s strategy is the same as last year, the result is to be the same—a failure.
While the government is still settling on antique tactics to fight off COVID, the Philippines has recorded the highest number of cases in one day, as of Friday, March 19.
Singer Zsa Zsa Padilla felt that the country is back from where it started. She thought the government restrictions (to combat the surge of Covid-19 cases) is similar to a ‘return engagement.’ The singer inquired, how can the Philippines rise–if it is still in a pandemic-loop?
Ay, back to One. One year na pero balik sa umpisa? Paano ba makabangon? Paumpisa pa lang ulit na magbukas ibang mga negosyo, pasara na agad. 🙁 Lord, help us! 🙏🙏🙏
— zsa zsa padilla (@zsazsapadilla) March 19, 2021
Celebrity host Gretchen Ho looked for the government’s action plan to address the spike in COVID cases.
With each day, the number of cases grew, Ho felt that the Philippines did return to zero.
Back to even worse than zero.
What’s the action plan?
Who’s in charge?!— Gretchen (@gretchenho) March 19, 2021
Journalist Atom Araullo echoed the possible actions that the government should have done in this deja vu. Araullo voiced out the public’s need since last year—mass testing, effective contact tracing, and effective quarantine methods.
But with the government reverting to last year’s strategy to mobilize state forces to impose health protocols, have the LGU return curfews and lockdowns, and force the public to return to self-imposed quarantines would never work just like last year.
Abot-kaya kung di man libreng testing, maagap na contact tracing, at epektibong quarantine lalo sa mga walang kakayahan mag self-isolate. Isang taon na ang lumipas pero ito parin ang mga bagay na hinahanap-hanap at kailangang bigyan diin.
— Atom Araullo (@atomaraullo) March 19, 2021
Many raised the question if the Philippines is indeed back to square one. But Health Secretary Francisco Duque III still does not see that the country is back to one in this pandemic. He emphasized the “progress” that the nation has made in dealing with COVID.
Duque clapped back at former DOH Secretary Esperanza Cabral who tweeted that the Philippines is ten steps back from square one.
“Hindi naman siguro tama na sasabihin na ten steps backward. Please lang. Isipin naman yung malasakit nila sa healthcare workers natin na ang kabayanihan ay di mapantayan. Sana naman wag ganun kalupit ang kanilang mga opinyon. Kawawa naman tayong mga lingkod-bayan na talagang halos walang patid ang paninilbihan natin,” said Duque.
In December of 2020, Duque, in his attempt to contain the spread of COVID-19, went around malls with a meter stick to remind the public of social distancing. But his plan backfired as his posse did not follow safety protocols, hunting him back.
Whether back to square one or being 10 steps back, both are worse.
