3 Ts: Test, Trace, Treat

Last week was the 60th day of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in some parts of the Philippines. Under the new guidelines issued on the extension of the ECQ, some areas remain under ECQ, while other areas like Metro Manila entered into Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) until May 31, 2020, while other areas are now under General Community Quarantine (GCQ). Under MECQ, some industries and business establishments are allowed to resume operations, albeit with some limitations.

The lockdown of Metro Manila and some parts of the Philippines a few months back was very helpful in slowing the curve, though it’s still not on the downtrend. Because, as experts have emphasized, a lockdown will at most, only slow down the increase in the rise in infections and deaths caused by COVID-19.

The surest way to stop the virus is the development of an effective vaccine. Reading the news, there has been promising progress from some labs on the development of a vaccine, with a lab in Oxford hopeful that they’ll be able to start producing by the end of the year. Unfortunately, it seems it will take a longer time for the vaccines to be available on a scale that will be effective. It takes time to produce vaccines. When production starts, there’s already a “priority list” of recipients. Not only of the people who will get the vaccine (specifically healthcare workers), but also which country can procure the vaccine. It’s every country for itself, scrambling to get it before other countries. The Philippines will be competing against other countries in getting the vaccine. There’s about 7.6 BILLION people in the world today. It will take a LOT of time to produce vaccines for everyone.

But even if there’ll be a vaccine available, which is estimated to take between 12 and 18 months, Dr. Fauci in a hearing of the United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, last week said that, “There’s no guarantee that the vaccine is actually going to be effective.” When I saw Dr. Fauci say that, it was like someone had poured cold water on me. However, it’s good he said that. So people’s expectation is managed, and we can adjust and prepare.

So, until and unless an effective vaccine is readily available, we have to be extra careful. We can’t stay in lockdown forever. Thinking a lockdown can stop the virus is like thinking putting bandage will cure you from a bullet wound.

It’ll only slow the bleeding, giving you precious time to go to a medical facility to have yourself treated by a doctor. In the meantime, we need to:

TEST

The Philippines is now conducting about 7,000 tests a day. Much more daily tests than just a month ago, but that’s still only about 30% of the target tests to be conducted. The DOH committed to conducting 30,000 tests daily by the end of the May, 2020.

But conducting tests won’t be effective unless you get the samples to the labs and processed in time (otherwise you’ll possibly have false-negatives), and release the results ASAP. The fact that test results of over 400 people who died because of COVID-19 were released AFTER their death, is NOT ACCEPTABLE.

TRACE

Sec. Dominguez of the Department of Finance last week announced a plan to hire people to do contract tracing. This is a very good move. Many, including myself have publicly asked for this for months. Some LGUs like Valenzuela City and Makati City have been doing this (other LGUs are also doing it, but I don’t have personal knowledge about it).

TREAT & ISOLATE

This is key to winning the war against COVID-19. Treatment of people who have the virus and getting them back on their feet. Vietnam and Taiwan were successful in winning over the 1st wave of the virus. Singapore was doing excellent at the beginning but had a breach, and the number of infected in the country is now the highest in ASEAN (this is also because they’re testing MUCH more than the Philippines and other countries in the region). However, if you look at the statistics of Singapore, last Thursday they had 23,822 cases, 3,225 recoveries, and 21 deaths. Compare that to the statisics of the Philippines as of last Thursday: 11,876 cases, 2,337 recoveries, and 790 deaths (sourced from https://covid19stats.ph).

Preventing people from getting infected, especially when movement is no longer restricted, is almost impossible. Getting people treated is what’s crucial.

Isolating people who are infected until they recover is also key here. Because if you allow them to continue to physically interact with others, they could spread the virus. Either isolating them in a hospital, or if they only have mild symptoms, isolating them in their homes. But if you have family, relatives or friends who are under isolation because they have the virus, please take time to check up on them and say hello. They can be alone. But they should not be lonely.

STAY SAFE. STAY HEALTHY.