Not the pandemic we knew
Not the pandemic we knew
| Reine Depra
A cough dismissed as a common cold. A slight fever that fades after a few days. For many, these symptoms no longer immediately bring COVID-19 to mind. Yet behind what seems like an ordinary flu season, the virus continues to circulate quietly.
Recent reports from the Quezon City Government showed an increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases over the past few weeks. From just 23 recorded cases between May 21 and June 10, the number rose to 84 from June 11 to July 1.
While the figures may seem alarming at first glance, health officials emphasize that the situation is far different from what communities experienced during the height of the pandemic.
Exploring COVID-19
COVID-19 is an illness caused by the virus’ severe acute respiratory system, or more commonly known as SARS-CoV-2. It began transmission at the end of 2019 and became a pandemic disease in 2020.
Common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, coughs, sore throats, new loss of taste and smell, fatigue, nausea, and diarrhea.
They usually spread mainly through respiratory droplets or airborne particles released when an infected person sneezes, coughs, or speaks.
Those who are older than 60 years or who have health conditions like heart or lung disease, diabetes, or weakened immune systems may be an easy target of severe COVID-19.
Staying one step ahead
The story of COVID-19 continues to evolve. While today’s cases are often milder, awareness and simple preventive measures remain important in keeping individuals and communities safe.
Despite the alarming news, Mayor Joy Belmonte reminded residents to remain vigilant and not panic while the city continues to closely monitor the virus, which remains manageable.
“We assure the public that the city government is closely monitoring these developments. While there has been an increase in cases, they still represent a very small percentage of our total population. We are not seeing any clustering of cases, and all reported infections have been mild and isolated,” Mayor Belmonte said.
“We encourage everyone to remain vigilant, but there is no need to panic. The best thing we can do is seek medical attention early if symptoms develop and continue practicing simple preventive measures that protect ourselves and those around us,” she added
To help reduce the spread of the virus, residents are highly encouraged to seek medical attention if symptoms develop, practice proper hand hygiene, wear face masks when sick in crowded or public spaces, and follow healthcare protocols.