The number of individuals across the globe found positive for COVID-19 has surpassed 90,000, with more than 3,000 deaths. The virus has been found across 73 countries and territories—all continents of the world with the exception of Antarctica.
Little wonder that the chief of the World Health Organization said the world is in unchartered territory.
While the bulk of cases are in China, in recent weeks smaller outbreaks have been observed in Iran, Italy and South Korea. New cases are emerging in worrying numbers by the day. Travel restrictions and a general sentiment of fear have curtailed travel and economic activity, making a global recession more likely.
COVID-19 is not a global pandemic—yet, but the WHO has warned this is a possibility in the near future.
Against this backdrop of silent danger, Filipinos struggle to live normally, however “normal” is defined.
Large events have been cancelled and some employers have encouraged their employees to work from home if the nature of their jobs allows it. For the greater majority, daily routines continue. People still take public transportation, go to malls and other places of entertainment, show up at work or school. They still see their friends and relatives.
The specter of contracting the disease, especially since some who are sick of it may not necessarily show any symptoms, is all too real. But we get by knowing that they are making a conscious, however small, effort to protect themselves and their families. The prescribed measures, after all, are not difficult to follow: Always keeping hands clean, staying away from those who have coughs or fever, avoiding unnecessary travel or presence in crowded areas, and generally keeping clean and healthy.
At this point the end is not clear. Will COVID-19 be declared a global pandemic, will it cripple the global economy, will it drastically change our lives? We can only hope that as we take responsibility for ourselves and our immediate circles, governments across the world will make transparency, accuracy and caution the rule, rather than obfuscation and baseless assurances.