Teaser no. 12: Do people who gather in a place, for one reason or another, not become superspreaders? 

The world, including the Philipines, has been terribly affected by the Coronavirus problem. Bohol is not exempted from the malady. With this threat in front of us, several sets of protocol have been issued and by now we should have known by heart these basic health guidelines.

The anti-Covid guidelines speak of the  community quarantine explicitly telling people of what they can do and cannot do.

The community quarantine protocol tells us about the number of people allowed to congregate or gather in a public space. The purpose is to minimize the risk of virus transmission, which could lead to surge in Covid cases.

Given the threat of the Delta variant, which is known to be more transmissible, GATHERING AND CONVERGING OF LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE SHOULD BE STRICTLY PROHIBITED, lest we will see a horrible surge in Coronavirus disease (Covid) cases.

This is why we ask a few questions following reports of mass gatherings allegedly happening in the country.

1.) Are the authorities in the country aware of gathering of fitness enthusiasts in some areas in the Philippines and maybe in our own province?

2.) If so, how sure are we that social distancing rules are properly observed to prevent superspreader events?

3.) When media people would ask an elected official concerned for some comments about these fitness activities conducted, is it fair for this elected official concerned to HOLLER (mosinggit ba, araaaaaayyy) at media people doing their job?  Is this elected official justified to raise his/her voice at the media man who is just asking for clarification about these events where people gather and possibly violate social distancing rules? Isn’t it lack of breeding for leaders to scream at other persons for the naive reason that the leader feels pressured about some questions? DILI BA DIAY MAHIMO UG HINAYON IYANG TUBAG? Tinuod ba kaha gyud ni nga exercise o gigamit lang ni nga paagi aron makakuha ug mga tawo agi ug pangandam sa kampanya sa election? Aguy aguy aguy, misinggit na pud. Kalma lang. Sayo pa kaayo mangampanya. Asikasuha sa nang pandemya.

5.) In another development, are provincial authorities aware of people flocking to a site where there is an interesting object said to be showing miracles of some sort? A lot of people are already converging in the area and allegedly they are being tolerated by the barangay officials of the said place. Are these not avenues of superspreading the virus?

6.) Is it true that national authorities are now informed about the alleged tolerance of some top officials in some towns in the country regarding mass gatherings in their area?

7.) Is it true that there are some medical practitioners already expressing their conern regarding some incidents of mass gathering and potential superspreader events?

8.) What are some of the measures done by top officials of a town to discourage mass gathering of fitness buffs?

9.) Naa na ba kaha poy gipili nga badlungon ug dili badlungon sa ilang panagtapok?

These are the questions that we pose in this week’s issue about the potential for superspreader events in our midst.