We Filipinos should now accept that this “deadly surge” of COVID-19 infections is seriously life-threatening to each and every one of us and our respective immediate families. On Monday, new COVID-19 infections reached 10,016, while the total number of active cases in the entire country is 115,495, closer to Indonesia’s 124,236. The daily positivity rate is at nearly 18.5 percent, while the reproduction number ranges from 1.8 percent to 1.9 percent.
Of course, these are just numbers, but if one checks and computes all active cases, mostly mild or asymptomatic, its effect and impact on the country is mind-blowing.
With the present active cases of 115,495 people, we can fill two Philippine Arenas (55,000 capacity) in Bocaue, Bulacan. Monday’s infections of 10,016 cases actually represent 60 percent of the capacity of Smart Araneta Coliseum (16,500) in Cubao, Quezon City and 66 percent of the capacity of the Mall of Asia Arena (15,000) in Pasay City.
Imagine the impact of these numbers—every two days, we can fill to the brim these venues with newly infected people.
This past week, the new COVID-19 variants have shown their viciousness, killing young and old and their families here in Metro Manila.
There is the young Atenean lawyer, who died together with his parents after getting infected with COVID-19. We also heard the story about the family who owns Bellevue hotel in Alabang, Muntinlupa. The chairman was hospitalized but his wife passed. Stories say the virus came from a relative who went to Dangwa to buy flowers for a birthday party.
Another untimely death is that of Fr. Arnold San Maria Cañoza, 45 years old. Outside NCR, we have the story of Mayor Edwin Pangilinan, of Famy, Laguna, who died of COVID-19 on the same day with his mother. Pangilinan was 53 years old. Another local government official—Kabayan, Benguet, Mayor Faustino Aquisan, 61 years old, died of cardiac arrest. After his death, his RT-PCR test revealed he was positive of COVID-19.
Former President Joseph Estrada was also COVID-19 positive and is now in stable condition. But he had to wait overnight in the emergency room of the hospital Sunday before a vacant room became available.