Friday, March 24, 2023
manilastandard.net
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Others
    • Pets
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Technology
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • MS ON THE ROAD
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Others
    • Pets
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Technology
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • MS ON THE ROAD
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
manilastandard.net
No Result
View All Result
Home Opinion Columns

Ready for the ‘pandemic exit’?

Danilo SuarezbyDanilo Suarez
February 3, 2022, 12:15 am
in Columns, Opinion, Oversight by Danilo Suarez
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Email

“If there is anything more contagious than the coronavirus itself, it is the rampant misinformation and disinformation.”

This week marks the start of the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. As we look back, the past two years have had their share of surges and letups. The emergence of two highly transmissible variants―Delta and Omicron―tested the efficacy of our COVID-19 response. The trends have also become fairly predictable, as we have seen when the Omicron entered the country during the holidays. With more than half of the population vaccinated, the Omicron surge produced mostly mild cases.

With these developments, many surmise that Omicron marks the end of the pandemic. We truly hope the same. However, we take into consideration that the mild cases are attributed to the COVID-19 vaccines. Meanwhile, the unvaccinated population remains prone to becoming critically ill once afflicted with COVID-19.

As daily cases in the country decline again, the question to ask is, is it right to take the road now to “pandemic exit”? Are we ready to treat this virus as endemic?

Health experts may be in a better position to tell. However, what is clear today is that there is a lot that needs to be improved as we prepare to slowly exit from the pandemic. For one, vaccinations must continue until everyone else is protected. This means that the information drive against vaccine hesitancy must be expanded in order to reach all corners and islands of the country. Pediatric vaccination should be commenced in all regions and provinces as soon as we can. Booster vaccination should also be made easily available most especially to the vulnerable population. All of this implies the need to secure continuous supply of COVID-19 vaccines to meet the country’s demands.

Second, hospitals and health facilities must be equipped and primed in cases of surge. We need to reduce attrition in hospitals by giving health care workers their well-deserved pay. Likewise, we need to encourage more health professionals to work for our hospitals by ensuring decent work environments and fair compensation. This includes ensuring adequate supply of PPEs and reasonable support to health workers who may get sick. We also need to boost genome surveillance capacity in order to detect presence or entry of any new variant and determine extent of transmission timely and promptly.

ADVERTISEMENT

Lastly, we need to make sure that the public is well-informed. If there is anything more contagious than the coronavirus itself, it is the rampant misinformation and disinformation. The public needs to thoroughly understand the importance of constantly adhering to minimum public health standards as we transition from higher to lower alert levels. Public health protocols will definitely remain as long as COVID-19 persists.

What is important is that we need to learn to live with the virus. As I said before, it is time to consider the likelihood of COVID-19 to stay for long. We need to transition and prepare for the new normal. The past two years made significant, deep, and extensive dents in many aspects of our lives. Economically, many of us may no longer have the capacity to endure the restrictive conditions posed by the pandemic. Socially, many of us long to return to pre-pandemic normal, perhaps to keep our sanity.

Eventually, we will really have to strike a balance between COVID-19 risks and our need to return to normal. Hence, I urge the government to come up with evidence-based plans and policies that must accompany the eased restrictions. Meanwhile, I strongly urge the public to be more cautious of information circulating and live more prudently. The risks of COVID-19 still looms despite the dropping of cases. I believe that we can overcome this pandemic by aligning our mindset towards disease prevention and health promotion. This is not impossible. Practicing conscientiousness is key.

Tags: COVID-19 pandemicCOVID-19 vaccinesDanilo SuarezDelta variantOmicron variant
ADVERTISEMENT
Danilo Suarez

Danilo Suarez

Related Posts

Expanding EDCA’s reach

byManila Standard
March 24, 2023, 12:20 am
0
8
Southwoods nails Seniors’ Fil golf crown

With four more sites due to be added to the five already established under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA)...

Read more

Are we moving closer to energy security?

byErnesto M. Hilario
March 24, 2023, 12:15 am
0
8
Denying Villafuerte justice

With the onset of summer, it seems the perennial critics are at it again, with doomsday scenarios and dire predictions...

Read more

Have we hurdled COVID-19 pandemic?

byEmil Jurado
March 24, 2023, 12:10 am
0
8
A tribute to Bob Garon

Is it true, as President Marcos Jr. stated, that “we have hurdled the COVID-19 pandemic? Yes, it is true—in a...

Read more

Ombudsman’s dismissal of a criminal complaint

byTranquil G.S. Salvador III
March 24, 2023, 12:05 am
0
8
Nullity of marriage: a defense in bigamy cases

The office of the Ombudsman is an investigative body tasked to “investigate on its own, or on complaint by any...

Read more

Incompetence, possible corruption in Dimayuga’s MMDA

byLouis "Barok" Biraogo
March 24, 2023, 12:00 am
0
8
Anti-Duterte RTC judges seek appointment to CA

Senator Mark Villar recently filed Senate Bill 1959 which, if enacted into law, will require the installation of digital countdown...

Read more

Infrastructure binge

byManila Standard
March 23, 2023, 12:15 am
0
8
Infrastructure binge

One of the main reasons foreign investors hesitate to bring their money into the country, apart from red tape, corruption,...

Read more

Print Edition

View More

Recent Posts

  • Aoki on Folayang: He’s no. 1
  • Southwoods Invitationall targets record cast
  • All set for National MILO® Marathon 2023 – Manila leg on Sunday
  • With women we run; with adidas, we grow: adidas premieres month-long celebration of women
  • Economic optimism driving Asia’s consumers back in stores
  • Williams out to try new things vs Superlek
  • Home Credit’s #SIMguradoAko campaign aims to support government’s push for SIM Registration
  • Shopee, PLDT, Smart upskill local sellers in partnership with Talavera, Nueva Ecija LGU

Advertisement

Latest News

Williams out to try new things vs Superlek

byManila Standard Sports
March 24, 2023, 5:09 pm
0
8
Williams out to try new things vs Superlek

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pi4RNnVlSfE Danial “Mini T” Williams is under no illusion that he’ll come in as the favorite when he steps in on...

Read more

Home Credit’s #SIMguradoAko campaign aims to support government’s push for SIM Registration

byMST Tech
March 24, 2023, 4:59 pm
0
8
Home Credit’s #SIMguradoAko campaign aims to support  government’s push for SIM Registration

Manila, Philippines | March 24, 2023 – Since the announcement of mandatory SIM registration last year, many have been confused about...

Read more

Shopee, PLDT, Smart upskill local sellers in partnership with Talavera, Nueva Ecija LGU

byMST Tech
March 24, 2023, 4:56 pm
0
8
Shopee, PLDT, Smart upskill local sellers in partnership with  Talavera, Nueva Ecija LGU

Shopee recently partnered with leading digital services provider PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), to educate local...

Read more

Celebrating beauty with empowerment at Miss Aura PHL 2023

byManila Standard Digital
March 24, 2023, 4:00 pm
0
8
Celebrating beauty with empowerment at Miss Aura PHL 2023

It is said that to every woman, behind her good looks and vivacious spirit lies that special character that generates...

Read more

Tokyo Bubble Tea launches Brown Sugar series

byManila Standard
March 24, 2023, 12:50 pm
0
8
Tokyo Bubble Tea launches Brown Sugar series

Are you into brown sugar drinks? Tokyo Bubble Tea has a treat for you.  The team that pioneered the boba...

Read more

Advertisement

ADVERTISEMENT
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube

ABOUT US

Manila Standard

Manila Standard website (manilastandard.net), launched in August 2002, extends the newspaper’s reach beyond its traditional readers and makes its brand of Philippine news and opinion available to a much wider and geographically diverse readership here and overseas.

Digital Edition

In tone and content, the online edition mirrors the editorial thrust of the newspaper. While hewing to the traditional precepts of fairness and objectivity, MS believes the news of the day need not be staid, overly long or dry. Stories are succinct, readable and written in a lively style that has become a hallmark of the newspaper.

Download – Today’s Paper

Search

No Result
View All Result

6th Floor Universal Re Bldg., 106 Paseo De Roxas cor. Perea Street, Legaspi Village, 1226 Makati City Philippines

Trunklines: 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Pop.Life
    • Newsmakers
    • Hangouts
    • A-Pop
    • Post Its
    • Performances
    • Malls & Bazaars
    • Hobbies & Collections
  • Technology
    • Gadgets
    • Computers
    • Business
    • Tech Plus
  • MS ON THE ROAD
    • Sedan
    • SUV
    • Truck
    • Bike
    • Accessories
    • Motoring Plus
    • Commuter’s Corner
  • Home & Design
    • Residential
    • Commercial
    • Construction
    • Interior
  • Spotlight
  • Gallery
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • Events
    • Seminars
    • Exhibits
    • Community
  • Biyahero
    • Travel Features
    • Travel Reels
    • Travel Logs
  • Pets
  • Advertise with Us

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Install Manila Standard Web App

Install App