Doctors, nurses, and other frontliners are calling for people to stay at home amidst the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic. Medical professionals are experiencing exhaustion and supplies are running low. They are urging people to stay at home if they don’t NEED to go out.

Advantages if We Stay at Home

It has been a week since Manila was declared on enhanced community quarantine. Meanwhile, provincial areas have also been declaring community quarantine.

Despite that and all the pleadings of the government and the medical professionals, there are still people who do not heed the stay at home call. Many have also been pilosopo about it.

I am not really sure that they are trying to prove, but we have more to lose if we do not stay put for at least two weeks. If we are obedient and cooperative, two weeks might just what we need. But if we are disobedient, then the covid-19 can go on longer.

If you are bored, here are some activities you can do with your kids during home quarantine.

There are People Who NEED to Go Out

There are people who need to go to work everyday. For one, our medical professionals and other community workers have to risk their safety in order to serve the Philippines.

Plus, there are companies that cannot shut down for some reason. We understand and respect that, as long as they are practicing safety measures.

There are also people who need to earn their daily wage, like vendors and drivers. Again, we understand that.

What we don’t understand are people who just go out for the sake of going out. Those who just go malling, partying, or meeting friends even when it’s not necessary. Schools were closed early and public gatherings stopped for a reason. These measures are for our safety. And that is why there is a travel ban.

Who Needs Home Quarantine

At first, those who were called to undergo home quarantine in Bacolod and Negros Occidental were those who have travel history from Manila or abroad.

Eventually, the scope widened because, as Covid-19 test kits became more available, it was learned that the virus has spread to more people. And the problem is, there are many people who are asymptomatic but who are probably carriers.

That is why we are encouraged to limit contact with people, especially the young children and elderly. We are also advised to practice basic hygiene and to strengthen our immunity.

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Even for those who did not travel, it is best to stay at home and avoid the risk of infection.

Two Ways Staying at Home Can Work for Our Community

If we have traveled since last February, we may have encountered someone who is a covid-19 carrier. The first covid-19 positive in Bacolod City arrived from London on February 29, 2020.

Travelers are encouraged to stay at home so that in case they have the virus, they will not spread it to the community.

But since the home quarantine has been expanded to the whole community, that includes those who have not traveled but are in the high-risk spectrum. This includes young children, senior citizens, pregnant women, and those with pre-existing health conditions.

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If we don’t go out, we reduce the risk of contracting covid-19.

How to Undergo Self-Quarantine at Home

According to Dr. Dominic Alojado, here is what we can do at home for PUI (persons under investigation).

1. Prepare and stay in one room.

2. Don’t share the bed with another person. Always keep a one meter distance from other housemates.

3. Separate all your personal belongings, like towel, toothbrush, and comb.

4. Wash your own drinking glass, plates, and utensils. Do not let others share your glass.

5. Tell others if you used the toilet or bathroom. Use a spray disinfectant before you leave. Wash your hands always with soap and water.

6. Wear a face mask when you go out of the room.

7. If you experience a fever, cough, body pains, or LBM, go the nearest hospital’s triage area.

8. Make sure that there are no housemates who are pregnant, kids under 12, seniors, and those with pre-existing health conditions. Those at high-risk are people with cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, heart failure, or kidney disease.

*Source: Dr. Dominic Alojado – Internal Medicine Dept., Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital, Silay City, Negros Occidental

Deaths Among Doctors

I got this information shared by a doctor-friend on Facebook. This is as of March 22, 2020, Sunday. And this is why doctors are urging everyone to stay at home. Don’t go out unnecessarily.

“We have 380 confirmed covid-19 cases in the country. There are already 25 deaths or a 6.6% mortality.

There are physicians in this list, with a lot of them falling ill because a patients have lied about medical history or travel background.

Those who have fallen among the doctors:

• 1. Dr. Israel Bactol – Cardiologist, Philippine Heart Center (D. 03-21-2020)
• 2. Dr. Greg Macasaet – Anaesthesiologist, Manila Doctors Hospital (D. 03-22-2020)
• 3. Dr. Rose Pulido – Oncologist, San Juan de Dios Hospital (D03-21-2020)
• 4. Dr. Raul Jara – Cardiologist, Philippine Heart Center (D. 03-24-2020)
• 5. Dr. Marcelo Jaochico – Provincial Health Officer of Pampanga | Former Doctor to the Barrios (D. 03-24-2020)
• 6. Dr. Sally Gatchalian – President, Philippine Pediatric Society (D. 03-26-2020)

Those who are in critical condition:

• 1. Dr. Francis Dimalanta
• 2. Dr. Evalyn Macasaet (wife of the deceased)
• 3. Dr. Marie Valbuena
• 4. Dr. Ronnie Mateo
• 5. Dr. Raldy Goco

There are also more doctors who have been tested covid-19 positive. Let us help them please. All they are asking us to do is to stay at home while they do their jobs. If we cannot help them more than that, let’s just please stay healthy. Thank you!

Fact Check

Among the 12% of the mortality are comprised of doctors. Only 0.12% of the population in this country are doctors.

Now, think about this. What happens if most of our medical frontliners get sick because you never followed a simple request to stay at home? Please help us win this war by following what the government implements. Let’s follow the imposed curfew as well.

Don’t Panic

We are told by authorities to obey protocols and regulations. This doesn’t mean that we should panic. Panic is making us do things that we should not do and these are creating more problems. One example is panic buying of necessities. Now, we are in shortage of many things, such as alcohol and protective gear that could have been used by frontliners.

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