Addressing The COVID-19 With Common Sense Words by BARRY DAWSON Photographs as Credited Go ahead, include sailing, basketball and other sporting spectacles, reopening of clubs and cinemas- but, common sense should prevail, and always wear a mask when large crowds are involved. 6
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte ordered a “lockdown” of the entire metro Manila region from March 15 to April 14 (which many restrictions are still in effect 4 months on) due to the coronavirus pandemic. Flanked by army and police officials, the president delivered a meandering, often contradictory address to the nation, leaving residents scrambling to prepare for a month of potential isolation in a region that already struggles to provide access to food, water, and medical care to over 12 million inhabitants. Now history will show that our Governing bodies have grossly OVER-REACTED to this Chinese inspired virus... to an infection that is clearly MANAGEABLE .Instead we have NEEDLESSLY destroyed the Philippine economy with devastating SOCIAL as well as ECONOMIC consequences. We are now faced with these things that are not just getting out of hand; they have well and truly got out of hand! With suicides and bankruptcies occurring on a daily basis. Our politicians and health bureaucrats in particular have got to understand , and this includes the President, that I, you, and the entire population IMMEDIATELY expect an improving balance between return to work and freedom of travel—and restricted work/ lock down. Herein we are NOT making the strides we should be making on behalf of return to work...not by half! We know enough now to say to ‘hell with shut downs‘, ‘to hell with autocratic Prima Donna Politicians, Mayors and faceless public servants’ making rules which have ALARMING and DESTRUCTIVE consequences for hundreds of thousands of small businesses, their families and their employees. Indeed, what we have in front of us is a manageable and PROACTIVE return to work scenario because we have enough information to implement this! We say: 1. The Number one focus must be on DEATHS. What proportion of the population is actually DYING dumdum? Who are they? 2. How many are getting the virus...but NOT DYING? 3. What contains the spread of the virus? 4. If we go back to work much more rapidly than now what are the likely consequences. 5. If we don’t get back to work, full time pretty soon, what are the FURTHER SOCIAL and ECONOMIC consequences for our economy and our MENTAL HEALTH as a nation? 6. Looking ahead, I say there is much to be OPTIMISTIC about viz. therapeutics (imminent) and state of the art (akin to flu injection) 7. GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY to restructure the Philippine economy Allow me to answer these 7 referenced points. (1) The people DYING from COVID are broadly those with other pre-existing conditions. There are always going to be exceptions, but this is the broad picture. They amount to 0.0009 percent of the population. Get it? Less than 1 percent! (2) 99 percent + are NOT dying from Covid! (3) Sensible health practices, if in doubt see a doctor and get a check-up. Practice sensible social distancing in heavily populated areas, Take better care of the elderly and be aware that in some cases they are more susceptible, especially if pre-existing conditions exist, like heart disease, high blood pressure. Asthma. Diabetes etc. (4) We should expect a SPIKE in virus infections. But we shouldn’t be unduly fazed or alarmed. It’s the number of deaths we need to focus on. Those who get the virus, other than some elderly and other pre-existing condition almost always recover. Some, with minimal sickness. Health practises must continue to be enforced at work including hands sanitation. (Recently I asked a friend who manages a large complex in Manila. Now, working restricted hours...as to customer induced viral infections: apparently they have had NONE and this has been the case since they reopened. Go ahead, Include sailing, basketball and other sporting spectacles, reopening of clubs and cinemas- but, common sense should prevail, and always wear a mask when large crowds are involved. Like major sporting spectacles. Continuing, any person becoming sick at work reports his/her reason as to non-work attendance and stays home, working from there, if practical and returns to work with a medical clearance. But here’s where the Government does have a specific role. It must introduce the TAIWAN model, where there have been minuscule deaths, by enforcing a telephone app where an infected person is contacted day and night as to his/her whereabouts, thus containing the spread of the virus thru his or her known and highly restricted movements. (5) No more shutdowns. These have driven many people CRAZY to the point of suicide, morbidity, despair of all kinds, and paved the way for long spells in mental homes. How dare any politician or bureaucrat think they have the right to take away my or your liberty! Especially, as it is becoming clear, that lockdowns only destroy the economy. They do not eradicate or control the spread of the virus. And, just like the flu, this virus is almost certainly here to stay (6) The Imminent arrival of more effective therapeutics and the near certainty of the flu injection equivalent will enable us to return to normality. And therapeutics alone combined with good health practices is enough, right now, to ensure a safe return to work. (7) COVID is a golden opportunity for the nation to plan for a new economy and pave the way in which we conduct our business. Wherever possible we need to ‘build it here’. Thus more manufacturing of our own goods, creating more employment, more downstream minerals processing, a national energy plan where 7
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