The samahan ng mga kabataan in Quesci would like to invite everyone to join as we launch the campaign Filipino youth vs. COVID-19. We believe that being part of the youth  does  not limit our responsibilities and the things we can do to help one another. As the president of this event, I would like everyone to know that we can help even in the smallest way.  We can start by always reminding one another to practice social distancing and to always wash our hands. Protect ourselves and our family from spreading the coronavirus by wearing a face mask, face shield or any proper personal protective equipment that we can use when going outside or better yet stay at home. 

Let us use our skills in using modern technologies to promote awareness and spread accurate news information to decrease the number of trolls spreading fake news. We can volunteer in programs and charities to help our medical frontliners or better yet donate through the following donation drives and charities (see links below). As we all know, because of the pandemic, we are all mentally drained and exhausted, this is a great opportunity for us to provide emotional support to one another. Amidst everything, we need patience and to look forward to a better tomorrow, and keep in mind the new normal protocols. 

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT COVID-19

The COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 or also known as the SARS-CoV-2 that originally started from Wuhan, China. It is a part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), after a long run of tests and different studies, it has been found out that the disease can be from the small droplets from the nose or mouth especially when the infected individuals talk, cough or sneeze they can easily spread the virus. People with pre-existing conditions such as, autoimmune diseases, respiratory conditions, heart problems or those who are considered to be immunocompromised, pregnant and senior citizens are the persons at risk the most of getting the coronavirus.

What are the symptoms of the COVID-19?

Different people of all ages can be affected by the coronavirus. There are two classifications of COVID-19 patients, it can be symptomatic and asymptomatic. Symptomatic patients may experience mild to severe symptoms or sometimes uncommon symptoms. According to WHO, the most common symptoms of the coronavirus would be having on-and-off fever, dry cough, and fatigue that can sometimes be mistakenly known as a common cold. The other symptoms that can occur are loss of taste or smell, nasal congestion, sore throat, diarrhea, chills or dizziness, and headaches, while if you experience shortness of breath, loss of appetite, high temperature (above 38 °C) and persistent chest pain these are otherwise known as the severe symptoms and needs to be treated in the nearest Covid hospital. On the other hand,  asymptomatic patients get a positive result but show no symptoms or any signs of fever, dry cough or fatigue.

The best way to prevent or slow down the transmission of the virus is to always protect yourself and others by always washing your hands or using alcohol, also always avoid touching any parts of your face including eyes, nose, or mouth where the virus can be obtained. It is also important to educate yourself and be aware of the current news information about the COVID-19 virus.

COVID-19 History in the Philippines

The first case reported in the Philippines was on January 30, 2020 from a Chinese woman confined at San Lazaro Hospital. Followed by another Chinese international who was later reported as Philippines’ first confirmed covid death case. After a month of no new record of confirmed cases, it was reported that the virus has been transmitted already all over in 81 provinces in the Philippines. The government since then declared an enhanced community quarantine to further avoid the continuous  spread of the virus. WHO on the other side, makes the assessment that COVID-19 is now officially raised as a global pandemic due to the rapid increase in the number of cases outside China since March 11, 2020. 

As of today, covid cases in the Philippines has already reached 422,000 confirmed cases where 8,000 are confirmed dead while 380,000 patients were confirmed to have recovered. Fresh cases are reported to be around 1000 per day since the past month of November 25, 2020. Vaccines are reported to be released in 2021 as the researchers and laboratory expert scientists from different countries conclude phase 3 study of COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials and continue to study the soon to be answer to our covid problem. (World O Meter, 2020)

More about COVID-19:

DONATE TODAY: They protect us, let’s protect them

Giving online has never been more secure, convenient or hassle-free with our one-click donation. The following links below are legitimate sources of where you can directly donate if you wish to. You can contact us if you don’t know where to start, we also accept standard cash and check donations. Donations may also include emergency medical supplies, personal protective equipment, face masks, face shield, alcohol, peripheral support for frontliner healthcare workers, including meals, transport, and temporary shelter near the hospitals. You can also get involved today by becoming a volunteer. Sign up and you will be joining a group of change-makers, a network strong enough to impact positive change in our community.

These are the links where you can directly donate (see also other sites)

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION – https://covid19responsefund.org/en/

PHILIPPINE RED CROSS – https://redcross.org.ph/ways-to-donate/

PGH Medical Foundation – http://pghmedfoundation.com/ways-to-donate

GIVE2ASIA – https://give2asia.org/COVID-19-pandemic-response-philippines/

ACTION AGAINST HUNGER – https://www.actionagainsthunger.org/donate/COVID19-relief-fund

GLOBAL GIVING – https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/COVID-19-relief-response/

UNICEF PHILIPPINES – https://donate.unicef.ph/campaign/covid19?utm_source=unicef_reimagine&utm_medium=unicef_reimagine_website&utm_campaign=coronavirus_reimagine

New Normal: Coronavirus Changes our Environment

Without thinking, we would not notice how this pandemic changed our environment. We are now living in the “New Normal” where it is the number one protocol that people should wear face masks and face shields everywhere they go. From physical distancing to practicing hygiene and washing hands this became our everyday routine just to prevent direct contact and being infected from the COVID-19.  Different places were put under enhanced community quarantine and people were strictly prohibited from going outside unless necessary.

It was hard to adjust at first, especially for those people who liked to go out often, but people learned to adapt afterwards. Shopping for groceries, restaurant food experiences, work and school can now be done even in our homes. Social gatherings are limited to a few people only so most of them happen through the use of the internet in different social media applications like google meet, messenger, or zoom. Did you also know that because of the community lockdowns, carbon monoxide emissions from the traffic have now reduced by 50% and the air quality and ocean water is somehow improving. On the other hand, the disposal of masks, gloves, surgical gowns, and other medical gear and medical wastes has been found out to increase because of the COVID-19 (Ecobnb, 2020).

Some of these things may be helpful or a positive change in other’s perspectives, but let us keep in mind that there are families in the lower class that are still having a hard time adjusting especially with those who are having problems in internet availability, job unemployment and poverty. There are also people suffering from isolation, depression and anxiety because of the mental exhaustion everyone is experiencing from the 8-month lockdown. We cannot simply adjust if there are people being left behind. That’s why it is important that we help one another. As our government continues to lift the community quarantine in different places in the Philippines we still need everyone to keep reminding one another to observe the new normal protocols. 

Care, Share, and Be Aware

As an individual, I believe that it is important to be aware of our own actions, thoughts, feelings and the things about ourselves. As part of the youth, I also believe that it is our responsibility to be aware of the things that are happening around us, and it is also our moral obligation to do our best to help one another in these times of pandemic.  By being aware, we can share our knowledge and help others to take precautions to help decrease the number of people affected by the coronavirus. It is important that we understand the importance of awareness thus it is the only way that we can acknowledge the strengths and weaknesses of the situation we are experiencing and therefore we can start a change. We can always enhance our knowledge about these things by using our skills in digital literacy. Let us take care of selves and the people around us, let us share our knowledge and most importantly be aware. 

REFERENCES:

10 Ways Young People are Leading the Way Against COVID-19. (2020, April 09). Retrieved November 26, 2020, from https://womendeliver.org/2020/10-ways-young-people-are-leading-the-way-against-COVID-19/

Al-Dmour, H., Masa’deh, R., Salman, A., Abuhashesh, M., & Al-Dmour, R. (2020, August 19). Influence of Social Media Platforms on Public Health Protection Against the COVID-19 Pandemic via the Mediating Effects of Public Health Awareness and Behavioral Changes: Integrated Model. Retrieved November 26, 2020, from https://www.jmir.org/2020/8/e19996/

Ecobnb. (2020, May 22). 8 Ways Coronavirus Is Changing the Environment. Retrieved November 26, 2020, from https://ecobnb.com/blog/2020/04/coronavirus-changing-environment/

Lai, C. C., Shih, T. P., Ko, W. C., Tang, H. J., & Hsueh, P. R. (2020). Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and corona virus disease-2019 (COVID-19): the epidemic and the challenges. International journal of antimicrobial agents, 105924

Ramzy, Austin; May, Tiffany (February 2, 2020). “Philippines Reports First Coronavirus Death Outside China”. The New York Times. Retrieved November 23, 2020.

Report of the WHO-China Joint Mission on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). (2020, February 16). Retrieved from https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/who-china-joint-mission-on-covid-19-final-report.pdf

Support COVID-19 Coronavirus Response in Philippines. (2020, November 11). Retrieved November 26, 2020, from https://give2asia.org/covid-19-pandemic-response-philippines/