There’s more ECQ in the Philippines
Alright people, let’s have a recap from where all hope runs out.
Based on the first reports, the earliest findings of covid-19 cases started way back in December 2019 on Wuhan. However, based on the “hidden” reports and rumors that spread, COVID-19 started as early as November 2019.
The media and other government officials speculated that the main reason why the Chinese government hid COVID-19 from the public was to avoid sudden fear and panic.
In January 2020, the rumors were proven to be true. Most countries started their lockdown as soon as the rumors were proven.
Hong Kong had a two-week very strict lockdown. They closed down almost everything and handled the issue pretty well than most countries. After the two-week quarantine, they all come out clean and started living their life normally again.
And there’s the Philippines. The Philippine government got too confident thinking that they will resolve it quickly.
Before they planned on having community quarantines, COVID-19 already spread left and right. It was already too late. The virus already spread throughout the Philippines.
Several studies have shown positive results that wearing a surgical face mask highly prevents air-borne transmission of COVID-19. So, a week before the quarantine, Filipinos are advised to wear surgical face masks to reduce the oncoming calamity.
On March 14, 2020, the government declared a total lockdown in the Philippines. It was the first season of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).
Filipinos are required to stay-at-home/self-quarantine to prevent further casualties. Frontliners (firemen, doctors, nurses, police, etc.) continued their day-to-day job while most company workers are either required to have a work-from-home schedule or are forced to resign.
Filipinos who had physical contact or have been with people who got COVID-19 isolated themselves to a greater extent.
Filipinos are also required to wear face masks if they are going outside, indoor and outdoor dining, personal care services, mass gatherings, and indoor sports were strictly prohibited, buying goods are scheduled, public establishments were closed, and social distancing was applied during the first ECQ.
From March 14, 2020, to May 31, 2020, exactly 2 months and 14 days, the first ECQ ended. It was a success, the Filipinos followed the regulated rules and the COVID-19 cases were lowered.
Every after ECQ, the Philippines are under by different sorts of ECQ alphabets ranging from:
MECQ — Modified ECQ, less strict
GCQ — General CQ, lesser strict
MGCQ — Modified General CQ, least strict
The second surge of COVID-19 cases strikes again.
On January 25, 2021, the second season of ECQ started. The very strict lockdown started again and Filipinos are now forced to wear face shields. Unlike the face masks, face shields didn’t have any scientific basis proving that it works but the government insisted that everyone should wear them.
From January 25, 2021, to February 15, 2021, The numbers lowered again, the second ECQ was lifted off.
Tons and tons of vaccines came in, people were vaccinated and wearing facemasks and face shields but it just wasn’t enough.
As of August 2021, the Philippines is currently experiencing its 3rd season of ECQ.
It looks like the Philippines is not getting better anytime soon. The Philippines just tops its all-time COVID-19 cases in a day, a whopping 17k cases.
Poverty continues rising. In every 1% of unemployment rising is equal to a million Filipinos going jobless.
When will this pandemic end? Will there be another season ECQ? How will the Philippines resolve this problem?