On July 31, NCR logged its highest record since May 10 with 1,740 new COVID-19 cases. The region’s seven-day average also increased by 40% compared to the previous week.
An independent research group named Octa said that the community transmission caused by the Delta variant maybe the reason behind this spike in cases.
Due to the threat imposed by the existing Delta variant in the region, ECQ will be reimplemented in NCR starting August 6. With this, celebrities expressed disappointment with the long and overdue cycle of lockdowns.
Jake Cuenca is disappointed with the repeating cycle of lockdowns in Metro Manila. It will now be the fourth lockdown in the said area since the pandemic started.
ECQ again? Seriously?
— Jake Cuenca (@ijakecuenca) July 30, 2021
Yen Santos had the same reaction.
https://twitter.com/yenxsantos/status/1420959435837427714?s=20
Sam Concepcion quipped that the usage of face shields may not be effective in combatting COVID-19.
ECQ again? Are the face shields not working ??
— Sam Concepcion (@sam_concepcion) July 30, 2021
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) claims that: “Face shields are not as effective at protecting you or the people around you from respiratory droplets.”
Despite this, the local government still requires Filipinos to wear these shields as part of the minimum health protocols.
Janno Gibbs sarcastically inquired about the futility of being vaccinated. This is after the DOH’s announcement that there shall be no exemptions between vaccinated people during the lockdown.
“No distinction between vaxxed and non vaxxed?!?!?! Paano, ipa-frame ko nlang sa wall ung vax card ko?!”
Antoinette Jadaone felt the need to review the ECQ guidelines as these will be reimplemented again. Also, she asked if the government will extend assistance to the people during the lockdown.
*googles ano nga ba ang ECQ uli*
— Toñet (@tonetjadaone) July 30, 2021
may ayuda ba?
— Toñet (@tonetjadaone) July 30, 2021
Bianca Gonzales also talked about assistance for those affected by the lockdown.
She hopes that the owners of small businesses will get assistance, too, as they are much affected during this pandemic.
Maliban sa mga arawan na lubos na maaapektuhan ng pagbalik sa ECQ, talagang ubos na ubos na ang mga small business owners na may mga inaalagaan ding empleyado. Nasabi na din naman ni Sec. Chua. Sana'y may ayuda o suporta din ang mga negosyo na isang taon nang hirap…
— Bianca Gonzalez (@iamsuperbianca) July 30, 2021
Jeff Canoy sees the situation as a treja vu – the deja vu of a deja vu.
Deja vu of a deja vu is treja vu, yes?
Stay safe everyone! https://t.co/dvacB7gps8
— Jeff Canoy (@jeffcanoy) July 30, 2021
Kerwin King called the repeated cycle of lockdowns exhausting. He said that the government did not learn from its mistakes in the past.
NCR to go back to ECQ this Aug 6-20..
They didn’t learn anything from the past. More people will starve. Unless there's change in leadership, this cycle will go on – No long-term solution. We’re just running in circles here and it’s EXHAUSTING.TEST. TRACE. ISOLATE. VACCINATE.
— Kerwin King (@imkerwinking) July 30, 2021
It’s already a year since the pandemic began, but the situation in the country is not improving. Filipinos keep on running in circles–lockdowns kept on reimplemented whenever a spike of COVID-19 cases occur.
Now that the new Delta variant is in the country–isn’t it high time that the government address this global health crisis scientifically, and provides solutions that are data-driven and not based on pure intuition.
The government should also establish long-term plans and sustainable ones, and be proactive in mitigating the pandemic. Give more importance to testing, tracing, isolation, and vaccination s well.
