Health expert shares tips on containing the virus
Published Mar 16, 2020 12:00 am
By Noreen Jazul
Citing a prediction from the World Health Organization (WHO), Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said the number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the Philippines might balloon to 75,000 if the country does not "act fast."
A soldier checks the temperature of a car passenger at a checkpoint before entering Manila on March 16, 2020, as part of measures to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
(Photo by Maria TAN / AFP / MANILA BULLETIN) So far, measures like community quarantine and social distancing have been implemented and practiced in the country; but what else can the public do to help contain the spread of COVID-19 which has already been declared a pandemic? Health expert Dr. Edsel Salvaña shared the following recommendations which the public can observe and practice: 1) Stay at home, if you can Salvaña said the SARS-CoV-2, formerly known as novel coronavirus, "spreads because people move around." "If you can work at home, then make arrangements with the office. Food service delivery will still work. Catch up on reading or Netflix or clean your house. Keep your kids home as well," Salvaña wrote. The public was also advised to avoid large gatherings, such as church services. "Remember two of the largest clusters in Singapore and South Korea were from church gatherings," he said. 2) Practice stringent social distancing Distance between persons must be "one arm-length" according to Salvaña. "In public transport, ideally windows should be open with adequate ventilation," he added. Salvaña reiterated that going out is not advised during these times, and only those going to the hospitals must do so. 3) If symptomatic, contact a health professional "DOH is setting up hotlines for this. If you are seriously ill," Salvaña said. Those "seriously ill" should put on a mask, and bring themselves to the "nearest Level 2 or 3 emergency room." 4) If asymptomatic, do not "insist" on having yourself tested Salvaña said health workers and critical personnel are usually the only ones tested despite showing no symptoms. "For the general public, if you think you had a close (within 6 feet) contact with a COVID-19 case, please do self-quarantine at HOME for 14 days. If you absolutely have to go out, wear a mask," the health expert said. 5) Be patient, do your part Salvaña appealed for public understating as hospitals need to prioritize "sever and critical cases." "Please be patient and do your part to support the healthcare system," he said. The health expert also urged the public to cooperate with measures implemented by the government, as these were also based from the advice of experts. "There are many more ways we can help out. Our leaders are not perfect, but they ARE LISTENING to the scientists," Salvaña, who is part of the Technical Advisory Group for COVID-19, underscored. "If everyone cooperates, hopefully, this is as bad as it gets for one month," he added. Salvaña also encouraged the public to protect the elderly and the sick, which he described as the country’s “most vulnerable citizens.”
A soldier checks the temperature of a car passenger at a checkpoint before entering Manila on March 16, 2020, as part of measures to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.(Photo by Maria TAN / AFP / MANILA BULLETIN) So far, measures like community quarantine and social distancing have been implemented and practiced in the country; but what else can the public do to help contain the spread of COVID-19 which has already been declared a pandemic? Health expert Dr. Edsel Salvaña shared the following recommendations which the public can observe and practice: 1) Stay at home, if you can Salvaña said the SARS-CoV-2, formerly known as novel coronavirus, "spreads because people move around." "If you can work at home, then make arrangements with the office. Food service delivery will still work. Catch up on reading or Netflix or clean your house. Keep your kids home as well," Salvaña wrote. The public was also advised to avoid large gatherings, such as church services. "Remember two of the largest clusters in Singapore and South Korea were from church gatherings," he said. 2) Practice stringent social distancing Distance between persons must be "one arm-length" according to Salvaña. "In public transport, ideally windows should be open with adequate ventilation," he added. Salvaña reiterated that going out is not advised during these times, and only those going to the hospitals must do so. 3) If symptomatic, contact a health professional "DOH is setting up hotlines for this. If you are seriously ill," Salvaña said. Those "seriously ill" should put on a mask, and bring themselves to the "nearest Level 2 or 3 emergency room." 4) If asymptomatic, do not "insist" on having yourself tested Salvaña said health workers and critical personnel are usually the only ones tested despite showing no symptoms. "For the general public, if you think you had a close (within 6 feet) contact with a COVID-19 case, please do self-quarantine at HOME for 14 days. If you absolutely have to go out, wear a mask," the health expert said. 5) Be patient, do your part Salvaña appealed for public understating as hospitals need to prioritize "sever and critical cases." "Please be patient and do your part to support the healthcare system," he said. The health expert also urged the public to cooperate with measures implemented by the government, as these were also based from the advice of experts. "There are many more ways we can help out. Our leaders are not perfect, but they ARE LISTENING to the scientists," Salvaña, who is part of the Technical Advisory Group for COVID-19, underscored. "If everyone cooperates, hopefully, this is as bad as it gets for one month," he added. Salvaña also encouraged the public to protect the elderly and the sick, which he described as the country’s “most vulnerable citizens.”