Name: Pinky Jocelle M.
Caluya
Section: STEM 12- St. Patrick
Date: 11/05/20
Verletzlich: Cons of lifting ECQ and lockdowns
The most serious health crisis the world has seen in a century is the latest outbreak of
COVID-19. A large proportion of asymptomatic carriers of the disease, often with mild
symptoms that can be confused with other diseases and a lack of proper testing make it highly
difficult to reliably estimate the number of people infected. However, the death rate and the
number of patients in urgent need of hospital care in most affected areas are still rising
exponentially.
In Executive Order No. 18 Series 2020, the order made from the Office of the Provincial
Governor done at Koronadal City, South Cotabato on 19 th of May, 2020, declaring and placing
the entire province of South Cotabato under enhanced community quarantine and calibrated total
lock down. However, if there will be a declaration where ECQ and community lockdowns in the
province of South Cotabato will be lifted, I don’t think it is the right time for that to happen at
this moment for the reason that easing up of the restrictions does not mean that COVID is gone.
Lifting the ECQ and community lockdowns only makes us more vulnerable; thus, it is not the
solution we need in the province, or so to speak, in the country.
Firstly, there are still cases of COVID-19 in the province of South Cotabato. According
to an article from Mindanews, South Cotabato reported 309 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on
Thursday, 15th of September, the highest in Area 12, as reported by the regional Department of
Health. Governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. said the number of positive COVID-19 cases in the
province has reached an alarming stage in the last few weeks due to the easing of restrictions on
the movement of people within the province and the region. “The worsening COVID-19 local
community transmission has started wreaking havoc to our health systems and to our medical
health workers and front liners,” he said in the order placing the province under GCQ. In
addition, the total number of cases of COVID-19 in Area 12, also known as Soccsksargen, was
944, with 500 active cases, 426 recoveries and 17 fatalities.
Second, a serious matter is this virus. It doesn't mean that people can be confident in
doing what they want when the day comes when the situation gets better in a state. When an
Name: Pinky Jocelle M. Caluya
Section: STEM 12- St. Patrick
Date: 11/05/20
infected person coughs, sneezes, or exhales by droplets, the virus that causes COVID-19 is
primarily transmitted. People can catch COVID-19 from others who have the virus, according to
an article from United Nations: COVID-19 Response. The disease can spread by tiny droplets
from the nose or mouth from person to person, which are spread when a person with COVID-19
coughs or exhales. These droplets land around the individual on objects and surfaces. By
touching these items or surfaces, other people then catch COVID-19, and then touch their eyes,
nose or mouth. When breathing in droplets from a person with COVID-19 who coughs out or
exhales droplets, people may also catch COVID-19. For this reason, many of us have the
possibility to be infected by the virus.
Third, it is important for a person who may be infected with the virus to remain more
than one meter away. According to an article in COVID-19 and Food Safety: Recommendations
for Food Businesses, a number of countries are adopting World Health Organization (WHO)
advice on the implementation of physical distance measures as one of the ways in which disease
transmission can be minimized. In the province of South Cotabato, lifting this ECQ and group
lockdowns could exacerbate the situation and could not bear the consequences of another wave
of cases of COVID-19.
In conclusion, I disagree on lifting the ECQ and community lockdowns in the province of
South Cotabato. Lifting the ECQ and community lockdowns only makes us more vulnerable;
thus, it is not the solution we need in the province, or so to speak, in the country. However, it is
better if it will be declared once the situation de-escalates, when there's already a vaccine or
when the virus is no longer a threat; once everything is safe for everyone. The government
should not lift ECQ in order to help prevent the spread of the virus. This is very helpful
especially in the cases of asymptomatic carriers since ECQ can control the movement of citizens,
as well as prohibit those who are vulnerable to the disease. Lifting said will expose the weak and
the ill to this deadly virus, any person can become a casualty.
