We are currently about 1 week into the lockdown of Metro Manila which was brought about by the onslaught of the new coronavirus which originated in a wet market somewhere in China *why am I not surprised?).
It hasn't been pretty. Thousands have died in China alone, and although it is seemingly fizzling out already there (new case rates have allegedly bottomed out to ZERO for the past several days in mainland china), it is just emerging in other parts of the world..
An actual PANDEMIC.. I never thought I would see this in my lifetime..
Tensions are running pretty high, but I guess people have kinda adjusted to this new norm. In my part of town people have been generally compliant, although I'm not too sure in the less fortunate areas where people are often belligerent about following rules and regulations due to a poor understandign of the current situation.
There were some really crazy scenes during the leadup to this lockdown. I witnessed firsthand a couple of panic buying situations at the local supermart. We had luckily stocked up on other esentials just the week before, so I wasn't reallly pushing around a cart with a mile-high pile of tissue paper. :P It was soo errie. The mall where I had clinic was basically closed except for the basement level containing the supermarket, a bakery, the clinic, and a cafe (presumably for those senior citizens awaiting their companions who went for groceries). The fastfood was obviously closed. Since I had some lead time before my clinic hours, I explored a bit. The air conditioning was turned off, and the mall was deserted.. I had never seen that place so quiet, save for the occasional footsteps of random store staff checking on their places of work.
As the days went by, stricter measures were put into place, hence the second wave of panic buying. The entirety of Luzon was now under community quarantine, with travel out of homes strictly being monitored and implemented by the local officials, law enforcement, and armed forces. It has been peaceful thus far, with most of the battles being waged in the hallways of hospitals across the country. Being a respiratory physician, I find myself thrust into the frontlines of this new conflict, and I have to admit that I am afraid not only for my life, but more for the people I love.. But these are trying times, and I have to put up a brave front to do what I have to do because this is what I signed up for.. Make no mistake, there is a great temptation to just run away and stay huddled indoors amidst the safety among family. There could always be excuses, to take the easy way out. But this is not compatible with the reality on the ground..
I want to go on, but it feels so heavy already. So much sad news in such a short span of time..
Tensions are running pretty high, but I guess people have kinda adjusted to this new norm. In my part of town people have been generally compliant, although I'm not too sure in the less fortunate areas where people are often belligerent about following rules and regulations due to a poor understandign of the current situation.
There were some really crazy scenes during the leadup to this lockdown. I witnessed firsthand a couple of panic buying situations at the local supermart. We had luckily stocked up on other esentials just the week before, so I wasn't reallly pushing around a cart with a mile-high pile of tissue paper. :P It was soo errie. The mall where I had clinic was basically closed except for the basement level containing the supermarket, a bakery, the clinic, and a cafe (presumably for those senior citizens awaiting their companions who went for groceries). The fastfood was obviously closed. Since I had some lead time before my clinic hours, I explored a bit. The air conditioning was turned off, and the mall was deserted.. I had never seen that place so quiet, save for the occasional footsteps of random store staff checking on their places of work.
As the days went by, stricter measures were put into place, hence the second wave of panic buying. The entirety of Luzon was now under community quarantine, with travel out of homes strictly being monitored and implemented by the local officials, law enforcement, and armed forces. It has been peaceful thus far, with most of the battles being waged in the hallways of hospitals across the country. Being a respiratory physician, I find myself thrust into the frontlines of this new conflict, and I have to admit that I am afraid not only for my life, but more for the people I love.. But these are trying times, and I have to put up a brave front to do what I have to do because this is what I signed up for.. Make no mistake, there is a great temptation to just run away and stay huddled indoors amidst the safety among family. There could always be excuses, to take the easy way out. But this is not compatible with the reality on the ground..
I want to go on, but it feels so heavy already. So much sad news in such a short span of time..
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