DIGEST and follow this information if you hope and pray that you and your family will survive the coronavirus pandemic because your lives really depend on them.
As of press time on Friday, March 20, COVID-19 has infected more than 258,000 people around the world and has killed more than 11,300. Here in the United States, the total reported cases has escalated to at least 16,500, with a death toll of more than 215.
We can find a silver lining in the news that for the first time since the outbreak of the coronavirus in Wuhan, Chinese officials say they have “seen the dawn” of an end to the pandemic, after the country reported zero new cases of local infection, the Independent reported based on figures for Wednesday, March 18.
Other countries like Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan have also given the world some optimism as the outbreak has shown to have slowed down.
Here in the United States, experts say we haven’t seen the worst yet, and as more testings are done, the number of people that will be reported to be infected and die from COVID-19 will just escalate. What will determine if we as a nation eventually surmount this crisis depends on us, the American people, and the choices and actions we make each moment moving forward.
Some DO’s and DON’Ts to remember:
DO understand that unlike the seasonal flu, the coronavirus is 10 times more deadly and could spread faster. This explains why it has become a pandemic in such a short period of time.
Those with symptoms (fever, sore throat and coughing, but may start out as usual cold symptoms and then progress to shortness of breath in as fast as 1-2 days) need IMMEDIATE testing, isolation and treatment when confirmed positive. Other people who have been exposed to these infected patients need to be quarantined and will be under observation for two weeks and get tested.
DON’T believe previous messages coming from President Donald Trump and his minions in the Republican Party, as well as Fox News, that the coronavirus is a “hoax” hatched by the Democrats to defeat Trump in the election. Burst your bubble of isolation and see how it has affected the whole world, and how much this virus can kill you — regardless of whether you are a Republican or a Democrat, your ethnicity, skin color, religion, age, sexual orientation and gender.
DON’T believe Trump when he previously without factual or scientific basis claimed the testings were being done smoothly, that the United States had contained coronavirus, and that like flu, it will go away in April.
DO listen to scientists and experts like Dr. Anthony Fauci, an immunologist who heads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, because these scientists have spent their entire lives studying these health issues to help mankind, not for any political games.
DO believe Dr. Fauci who revealed that the United States is lagging behind in testing that should have already been administered on a large scale to mitigate the spread of the virus.
The reason we are at least two weeks behind in testing and in addressing this medical emergency is because Trump and his minions downplayed and politicized this crisis and covered it up, foolishly thinking they could hide this forever for their selfish political survival. Many lives have been lost because of this president’s ill intent, ignorance and incompetence.
DON’T believe Trump when he misinformed the American people during a White House news briefing on Thursday that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had approved the “very powerful” drug chloroquine to treat coronavirus.
This drug is currently being prescribed to treat malaria, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
Trump claimed that the FDA “has gone through approval process…they took it down from many many months to immediate. So we’re going to make that drug available…” NOT TRUE!
DO believe FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn, who shortly after contradicted Trump, saying the FDA would need to determine that [claim] in a clinical trial, and an FDA spokesman categorically stating that the drug has NOT YET BEEN APPROVED for COVID-19 treatment.
DO believe Dr. Anthony Fauci who debunked the accuracy of Trump’s claim in several interviews. The president doubled down on his claim during Friday’s news briefing that chloroquine has worked on other people and stated that he is a big fan of the drug. Dr. Fauci responded in effect that while Trump and the American people want to have treatment for the coronavirus, but he had to speak from the perspective of science.
Dr. Fauci explained, “We’re trying to strike a balance between making something with a potential of an effect to the American people available at the same time that we do it under the auspices of a protocol that would give us information to determine if it’s truly effective.”
Referencing Trump’s praise of the drug, Dr. Fauci bluntly said, “But the information you’re referring to is anecdotal, it was not done in a controlled clinical trial. So you really cannot make a definitive statement about it.”
DO FOLLOW the directives of your local government officials. Here in California — home of the most number of Filipinos outside of the Philippines and in America — Governor Gavin Newsom has already declared a statewide mandatory “Stay at Home” order, which began on Thursday, March 19 until further notice.
Newsom’s executive order stated that this is enforceable through the provision of government code section 8665, which penalizes violators by fine or imprisonment.
The order mandates that California residents should stay at home, and practice social distancing (defined as being away from another person by six feet) and washing hands often.
What are open? Other than hospitals, only essential services will remain open, such as gas stations; pharmacies; grocery stores, farmers’ market, food banks, convenience stores, take-out and delivery restaurants, banks, laundromats, laundry services.
What are closed? Dine-in restaurants, bars and nightclubs, entertainment venues, gyms and fitness studios, public events and gatherings, conventions centers.
Other states have declared similar measures and increased restrictions like New York, Illinois, Florida.
DO HEED the State Department’s Level 4 (the highest level) warning that advises U.S. citizens to avoid all international travel due to the global impact of COVID-19. In countries where commercial departure options remain available, U.S. citizens who live in the United States should arrange for an immediate return to the U.S., unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period.
The State Department also advised U.S. citizens living abroad to avoid all international travels.
DO PRAY. For your self, your family, and for others, including our front-liners in the hospitals, our government officials and volunteers.
GOD BLESS US ALL.
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Gel Santos Relos has been in news, talk, public service and educational broadcasting since 1989 with ABS-CBN and is now serving the Filipino audience using different platforms, including digital broadcasting, and print, and is working on a new public service program for the community. You may contact her through email at [email protected], or send her a message via Facebook at Facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos.
