Coronavirus Lockdown: Return of Flagellants, Job Hunt Tough, and More!

More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government.

Holy Week is here and of course everyone is told to be careful to follow health protocols becasue of large gatherings. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1198889

Noting that the coronavirus disease-19 (Covid-19) still exists, the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) reminded Dabawenyos Tuesday to be cautious during the Holy Week gatherings.

Maj. Catherine Dela Rey, DCPO spokesperson, emphasized the importance of taking precautions to prevent the spread of the virus in the absence of official restrictions on public gatherings.

The Department of Health has yet to declare that Covid-19 is no longer a major public health threat, thus the need for vigilance and precautions, she said.

“It's up to the people’s discretion, but we should not forget that Covid-19 is still around. As much as possible, wear a mask if you don’t want to be exposed to the virus," the police official said.

Aside from wearing face masks, she urged the public to still practice social distancing, especially inside churches.

She noted that the recent changes in weather have resulted in many people suffering from coughs and colds.

Don't forget that despite an insignificant spike in cases the DOH has said point blank there is nothing to worry about. In fact they said there is no need to stay home if you are vaccinated. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/866161/doh-amid-hike-in-covid-19-cases-no-need-to-stay-home-if-vaccinated/story/

The recent increase in the number of new COVID-19 cases remains "insignificant" and should not cause Filipinos to limit their movement, Department of Health officer in charge Dr. Ma. Rosario Vergeire has said.

According to Lei Alviz's report on "24 Oras", Vergeire made the remark after the DOH registered a daily new COVID-19 cases of 275 from March 29 to April 4—an increase of 35% from the daily average number 204 cases from the week before.

(As long as we're vaccinated, we're wearing masks, we don't have to limit our movement to staying home. We can do the important things we have to do just as long we know how to protect ourselves.)

Vergeire said the hospital bed utilization rate across the country was "low-risk" at 16%.

The positivity rate—the percentage of those who tested positive from among those who had themselves tested for COVID-19—was at 5.8% as of April 3. 

"It was relatively quiet since December and even worldwide... So what could be driving it? There could be a new subvariant," said Dr. Guido David of OCTA Research.

"We’re monitoring a new subvariant in India, it’s XBB1.16," he added, saying it was reported to be more transmissible and it remains to be seen if it can cause severe disease.

Other factors for the increasing number of cases are the waning immunity of those who have been vaccinated and those who have been infected, and the easing of health protocols.

Does that mean the unvaccinated should stay home? What are the statistics for un vaccinated vs vaccinated people getting COVID? No doubt many un vaccinated people have not gotten COVID and vice-versa. 

Plenty of Holy Week activities are back after a three year halt.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/07/23/devotees-flock-to-antipolo-for-alay-lakad-after-3-year-halt

After three years, Ashley Mendoza finally has returned to Antipolo Cathedral, the place she had visited annually to find comfort, hope, and repentance since she was 12. 

(I'm happy. It feels good to be back. I haven't been here in 3 years. It felt so good seeing the church. It's a different feeling.)

A string of families, including young children and senior citizens, flocked to the Antipolo Cathedral for the Alay Lakad, where devotees trek to the International Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage starting Holy Thursday afternoon. 

Apart from her kids, her 64-year old father also joined the throng of faithfuls heading to Antipolo Cathedral by foot.

(Now that I am old, I want to try it. They are here every year except during the pandemic.) 

Flagellation is also back after COVID-19 protocols have been relaxed. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/multimedia/photo/04/07/23/good-friday-sees-return-of-flagellants

A penitent lies down while self-flagellating during a local ritual meant to atone for sins in observance of Good Friday in Brgy. Bambang in Bulakan, Bulacan. Relaxed COVID-19 protocols in the country have seen a return of extreme shows of faith despite the Catholic church’s disapproval. 

The lifting of COVID travel restrictions has resulted in quite a few deaths but not from COVID. It was COVID revenge travel.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/04/10/2257839/72-dead-drowning-after-holy-week-season-police

At least 72 people have died by drowning in the Philippines since the start of the month, police said Monday, attributing the unusually high figure in part to millions hitting the beach for Holy Week.  

The holiday is traditionally marked in the Catholic-majority nation by millions of people leaving the capital Manila to spend time with family.

Philippine National Police (PNP) spokeswoman Colonel Jean Fajardo said the high toll was partly due to "revenge travel" as the country emerges from years of mobility restrictions to contain the coronavirus. 

"People got a bit excited to go to beaches and resorts," Fajardo told AFP.  

A breakdown of the fatalities was not immediately available, but Fajardo said the victims included children who were left unattended by guardians while swimming, as well as people who hit beaches while drunk.

Fajardo called the death toll "unusual" and higher than past years. 

"Resorts and beaches were packed. This also contributed to the number of drowning incidents," she added. 

Of course travel restrictions have been lifted for a year and a half now. How many times do people have to be told to never leave your children unattended while swimming and don't go swimming drunk?

Bacolod is compiling a list of COVID health emergency allowance benefits. 

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1958080/bacolod/local-news/cho-told-to-submit-list-of-covid-allowance-beneficiaries

THE Bacolod City Council has approved a resolution requesting the City Health Office (CHO) through the office of Mayor Alfredo Benitez to submit to the City Council the complete list of names with corresponding designation and area of assignment of all qualified recipients/health workers of the One Covid Allowance (OCA) health emergency allowance (HEA).

The City Council also asked the CHO to submit its guidelines for the qualification of the said grant in compliance with the colatilla for ratifying Resolution No. 211, Series of 2023.

The resolution, authored by Councilor Em Ang, was approved during the regular session of the City Council on Tuesday afternoon, April 4.

Ang said Resolution No. 211 Series of 2023 was passed on March 1, 2023 during the 35th Regular Session ratifying the Memorandum of Agreement between the Department of Health, represented by Dr. Adriano Subaan and the City of Bacolod, represented by Benitez regarding the transfer of funds for the grant of the OCA/HEA.

She said a colatilla was added to the resolution that the CHO must first submit to the City Council the complete list of names with corresponding designation and area of assignment of all qualified recipients and health workers of the OCA/HEA and likewise its guidelines for the qualification of the said grant.

She added that the City Treasurer's Office started disbursing the allowance to recipients in the last week of March.

Ang noted that the City Council has not received the list of qualified recipients pursuant to the colatilla of the above-mentioned Resolution.

"This is to reiterate our call to the CHO to submit the aforesaid requested documents to the City Council immediately," Ang said.

This money is long overdue to health workers. 

Local residents are saying an oil spill has been more devastating than the pandemic. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/866490/some-residents-say-oil-spill-impact-worse-than-that-of-covid-19-says-group/story/

Affected residents of two towns in Oriental Mindoro find the assistance they have been given after the oil spill in March insufficient, a study conducted by an environmental group has shown.

At a press conference, Center for Environmental Concerns Philippines (CEC) research coordinator Jordan Fronda said some residents have said the impact of the oil spill was worse than that of the COVID-19 pandemic.

(Some were saying that the oil spill is worse than COVID-19 in terms of its effects. Because of the oil spill, they have nothing. They cannot get food from the sea.)

(Almost everyone received relief in Pola but there was relatively less distribution in Calapan. Nonetheless, there is a sentiment that the quantity and quality of relief needs to be improved.)

Strange they would think that seeing as the government practically destroyed the economy. Both are manmade disasters though. 

The lack of face-to-face classes over the past three years has caused problems for job seekers.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1755172/job-hunt-tough-for-graduates-of-pandemic-generation

Fresh graduates are finding it more difficult to land jobs as many of them lack “soft skills” — or those related to empathy, creativity, resilience, and communication — and practical job skills that would have been best honed in face-to-face classes.

This was among the main findings of a recent Commission on Human Rights (CHR) situational report, which sought to underline urgent challenges faced by new graduates in a post-pandemic normal.

The report also provided one of the first snapshots of the hardships faced by the “pandemic generation,” or the first wave of students who experienced pandemic learning during their formative school years.

Its findings were culled from focus group discussions with officials of the national government, prospective employers, school teachers, administrators and principals, and the youth.

Among others, it found that new graduates tended to experience a “culture shock” upon entering the workplace “because their expectations differ[ed] from what they were taught at school.”

There is more to it than that of course but count on it the lack of face to face classes did nothing to help students or stop the spread of the virus.