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When WHO goes to Wuhan

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Twinkling with Ninfa R. Leonardia

Now even the heathens may have to go to church for their shots. This is because the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has approved the use of churches for vaccination purposes. This, I think, is their way of contributing to the fight against this vicious COVID that China has gifted mankind. Of course I am not saying that they did it on purpose, but  I do know some people who look at this pandemic as some sort of warfare. But we are not that malicious, are we?

***

But I am sure people all over the world would be consoled if they also knew how this COVID is affecting the land of its birth. I often wonder why no statistics ever come out  about its effects on that country? Are reporters there censored, or what? The other day, I saw an item  saying that scientists from the World Health Organization are going to Wuhan, where the virus first showed its ugly head, to find out more about it, and possibly to be able to find a preventive and cure to ease the fears and sufferings of human beings from the effects of its infection.

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Let us not only wish them success, but also a good reception and cooperation from the people there. Do you realize that we haven’t been hearing much, and maybe, next to nothing, about how they are coping or have coped with the infections that came from there? Let us also pray for the W.H.O. doctors and scientists to be received well, and given the cooperation of China’s own medical people. The results of this search could lead to the conquest of this virus that the world has not encountered before.

***

I wonder  how the vaccination drive in our county is thriving? Initially, it seemed that people were afraid to undergo it, with the false suspicion that it might give them the ailment itself. It seems, though, that such vaccination campaigns are working in other countries, and I understand that our president himself has already approved the one we should adopt. So what are we waiting for? Not for more mortalities, surely? COVID has taken its toll already, it’s time to stop it in its tracks now!

***

Figures I got from TV said Israel has vaccinated 29 percent of its population. That  was Wednesday yet, so they must have progressed since then. Has our own government already procured one? I heard before that the President had decided on the Astrazeneca, and have we acquired, or ordered it already from its source? I hope such purchase will not necessitate approval by Congress, otherwise our victims may have doubled or tripled by then. This is an emergency, is it not?

***

But it looks as if we are not doing too badly as far as reponse to the malady is concerned. The Philippines is said to have attained a 79 percent performance in the world index regarding this pandemic. That is not too bad, you know. I believe it is because our people are more compliant with instructions from our medics, such as in the wearing of masks, with some even augmenting that with face shields, too. Do you know that there are some who keep their masks on even when sleeping? But that is reasonable – if  you don’t think your roommate is “clear”.

***

What did you think  of the last acts of ex-President Donald Trump in pardoning dozens of convicts and commuting the sentences of more? Were those felons friends of his, or had some influence in his political life? Can the State itself not have a say in such decisions? Maybe the print media had enumerated the names  and the crimes of those released, but we have had no access to national news except through TV and if it had been mentioned, I may not have caught it. But I don’t doubt I can recall in my whole life a case of any convict being pardoned by our government. I hope  our present leaders will not take a cue from that.

***

Meanwhile, I think many Americans are happy to have Joe Biden as their president now. As soon as he got to his desk at the White House, among the first things he focused on was the COVID relief bill. I don’t ever recall ex-Donald the Trump, mentioning plans or steps he had focused on against the pandemic. The scourge may not go away yet during Biden’s time, but, at least, his people know he is seriously doing what he can to relieve his constituents  of their fears of the pandemic, on his first day in office. Why did it not matter so much to Trump? Because he had gone through it and survived? I think I will reserve my comments on that.*

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