Is Fear of the Novel Coronavirus Getting Out of Hand?

The novel corona virus is a bioweapon. It comes from eating bat soup. The Chinese are carriers of the disease.  We have to ban everyone from Wuhan province.  Everyone needs to wear face mask.  Face masks are sold out everywhere!!  We are all going to die!!!

A lot of hysteria is sweeping the world about the novel corona virus. Several cases have been confirmed in the  Philippines already.  Face masks are indeed sold out and people have been warned to not buy face masks from street vendors. Hundreds have already died from the disease so it's not unwarranted to want to keep oneself safe from contracting it.  But perhaps some of these measures are just plain dumb and only serve to perpetuate the panic.  How about this poster at Robinsons Mall?

It's an informative poster no doubt. But is that little bit at the bottom in big red print necessary?

"Wear a mask at all times." Seeing everyone in a masks surely isn't going to cause a panic right? Of course all the stores are out of masks so it is just not possible for everyone to wear one at all times.  Unless perhaps you run across Paolo Duterte handing them out.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/02/03/paolo-duterte-distributes-free-face-masks-to-dabawenyos/

The Office of Davao City first district Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte distributed on Monday, February 3, around 10,000 face masks in various areas here amid the scare created by the novel Coronavirus (nCoV). 

Duterte said the activity was conducted in line with the growing clamor of the Dabawenyos for face masks considering that several stores have stopped selling the merchandise due to very high demand. 

“Tabang namo ni sa atong mga igsuong Dabawenyo tungod kay daghan ang wala nay mapalit nga face masks tungod aning (We would like to help our Dabawenyo brothers and sisters because a lot of them were not able to purchase the masks due to) coronavirus scare,” Duterte said. 

The presidential son, however, clarified that they did not want to sow panic, and just wanted to provide what his constituents have been clamoring for. 

“We also wanted to advice the public not to panic. What is important is we maintain proper hygiene. Mask alone would not protect us from any virus if we do not observe proper hygiene. Wash your hands regularly and make sure your environment is clean,” the young congressman said.

Where in the world did he get 10,000 face masks from? No wonder everyone is out of stock! Did he buy them all for this publicity stunt? If you are in Cebu and you drive a taxi, jeepeny, bus, or other PUV then you had better be wearing a face mask or you will have to cough up P5,000!

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1092884

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) 7 (Central Visayas) on Tuesday apprehended 10 drivers of public utility vehicles (PUV) for violating the new policy requiring them to wear a protective face mask while on duty. 

The operation was conducted Tuesday morning after the central office issued Memorandum Circular 2020-005, which set the guidelines for all public utility drivers, conductors, and terminal operators in ensuring safe public transportation because of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) scare. 

The circular has directed “all PUV drivers and conductors to properly wear a face mask at all times while on duty and for all franchise holders to ensure compliance” with the policy. 

Meanwhile, Montealto advised the drivers to just follow what has been required of them under the new memo to avoid being fined. 

His reaction came after some drivers complained about social media that the PHP5,000 penalty for not wearing a face mask is too big. 

“They can devise a mask. They can use their handkerchief or face towel to cover their nose and mouth. Table napkin can even be used, as long as they are protected from the virus,” Montealto said.

Wow!  A handkerchief, a face towel, and even a table napkin are enough to protect one from the deadly novel corona virus!  What a joke! No way will a flimsy table napkin protect you from the virus but it will protect you from the egregious fine.

SM Supermarket is also warning their customers about the virus and how to protect themselves from infection.

Cleaning ones hands figures big into all this preventative advice. Inside the store management was kind enough to provide a bottle of hand sanitizer for all customers to use.

Even Metro Supermarket is getting into the game by leaving out a big bottle of hand sanitizer for everyone to use.

Banks are also offering hand sanitizer. Did you know money is the dirtiest thing we touch every day?

Question: If everyone is touching the bottle won't that defeat the purpose? Or does the hand sanitizer cancel out that risk? Germs can be spread via hands through handshakes but what if there were no more handshakes?

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1093143

The chamber adopted during Wednesday's plenary session House Resolution No. 408, which urges the promotion of the simple act of gracefully laying the palm of the right hand over the center of the chest with a simultaneous slight head nod as a customary Filipino gesture of goodwill, praise, and respect. 

The resolution was adopted amid the threat of the novel coronavirus, wherein the Philippines had three confirmed cases of the virus, one of whom died in February. 

Marikina City Rep. Bayani Fernando, the author of the HR No. 408, said the medical profession has established that the traditional, well-meaning and innocent gesture of handshake transmits communicable diseases and is a risk to one's health. 

Fernando said the alternative of placing the hand over the chest is a universal gesture of good faith coming from the heart, while a nod is a traditional Filipino gesture of respect. 

"The Philippine Government is urged to promote this gesture of goodwill and praise so that this will become a customary practice of all Filipinos," the resolution read. 

"All government agencies are encouraged to promote this practice in their respective offices and areas of jurisdiction, with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) taking the lead in the wider dissemination and promotion of this Filipino gesture,” it added.

This might not be as bad of an idea as one thinks because Filipinos do not use toilet paper! A new gesture of respect to replace the handshake might be a silver lining during these trying times. However there is something even better to look forward to as a result of the virus: thriving tourism!

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1226053/mindanao-tourism-to-thrive-amid-ncov-threat-execs-say

Tourism officials in various areas of Mindanao expressed confidence the new coronavirus (nCoV) epidemic that’s gripping more than 20 countries will only have minimal impact on tourist arrivals this year. 

The optimism is mainly based on the rising number of local tourists, and the minimal count of Chinese nationals compared to the total expected influx of visitors. 

The large bulk of tourists into Caraga are Europeans, Americans, and Australians; they constitute some 90 percent of tourist arrivals in Siargao, the DOT said. 

Roel Catoto, a resort operator in Siargao, told the Inquirer by phone that so far the nCoV scare has not affected the island’s tourism. 

“We can still see the same [number] of tourists, and maybe more these past few days. People still pack the party spaces at night and the island-hopping bookings are still up,” said Catoto, who rents motorcycles to tourists and co-owns the Payag Suites and Chef Justice Restaurant. 

“Unlike Boracay, Siargao’s tourism fortunes were never dependent on Chinese visitors. Most of the tourists here come from Europe, Australia, and other parts of the world,” added Catoto.

While there is a ban on Chinese tourists Siargao Island doesn't get a lot of them anyway so it's no big deal! The white guys like to visit and they will keep on visiting.  Meanwhile since flights to China have been put on hold Filipinos will have no choice but to visit local farms for vacation.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1226033/senator-villar-ncov-scare-to-boost-local-tourism

Senator Cynthia Villar told hundreds of farmers during the 1st Agribusiness Tourism event here that the novel coronavirus (nCoV) would boost local tourism in the country. 

“Since there’s a ban on any flight coming in from China, Hong Kong, and Macau, so they can’t cruise for fear of getting infected of nCoV so we will rely on farm tourism and it is local tourism,” Villar said. 

She said this is a great chance for Filipinos to explore the beautiful local sceneries, particularly the farms, as promoted by the Department of Tourism.

Remember when anything happens in this county be it a natural disaster, terrorism, or a pandemic the first thing officials are worrying about is how it will affect tourism. Even during the recent eruption of Taal volcano official's thoughts turned towards tourism. It seems the (nCoV) won't be affecting tourism at all but actually increasing it domestically. Hooray for pandemics and quarantined countries!

Despite all the fear of contracting this deadly disease there really is nothing to worry about. The Duterte administration is going to defeat the virus.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/02/11/1992184/we-can-defeat-virus-duterte

In a speech before local government executives, Duterte slammed the “idiots” and “kibitzers in politics” who are using the nCoV crisis to sow fear. 

“If it goes out of hand, do not worry,” Duterte said. “I can assure you we can defeat the virus… just believe in the government. In a crisis involving deaths and getting people safe, we will do our very best.”

See? There is nothing to worry about. Just believe in the government. Everything will be fine. Stay safe out there, always know where your towel is, and whatever you do, DON'T PANIC!