Post on COVID-19

By now, Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak has reached a pandemic level. The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday declared the rapid spread of COVID-19 outbreak as pandemic. Pandemic level can be understood easily with this description: "114 countries have reported that 118,000 have contracted Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus, known as SARS-CoV2. Nearly 4,300 people have died.

In the Philippines, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte announced on March 12 that the National Capital Region is to be placed on "community quarantine", playing with terms and intentionally avoiding "lock down" during his much awaited but delayed press briefing in Malacanan.

With the community quarantine following the WHO's directive for national governments to step up in addressing the virus' effect and death toll, there were so many questions arising from PRRD's press briefing.

The virus causes mild respiratory infections in about 80% of those infected, though about half will have pneumonia. Another 15% develop severe illness, and 5% need critical care.

How do we address this? Let us borrow from the many ways social media has reached us like Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, Google's Gmail and Blogger, Twitter and many more.

Here is another one, this time an infographic on Effective hand washing:

Knowing the Corona Virus:

Let me share the message I sent to my Scholastic Basketball Camp-PIT Workouts players the other day:

"Hi PIT Camp family! Musta na? No classes and stay at home? Fear not the COVID-19 Virus. Here are some reminders:

1. Exercise regularly, twice a day. Morning and afternoon.

2. Eat healthy. Gulay, isda, prutas (veggies, fish, fruits). STAY away from sugary food and drinks. Mas madali kumapit ang mga bacteria sa sugar inside the body (bacterias like to stick with sweets especially inside the body).

3. Rest well. Sleep early and wake up early.

4. Drink Vitamins. Double-up on your Vitamin C intake.

5. Drink enough water. Stay hydrated.

6. There is a reason for school cancellation. May dahilan. Kasi kailangan ma-contain ang virus and one sure way is to avoid crowds. Stay home.

7. Pray. Pray unceasingly. Pray everytime you have the chance.

8. Follow what your parents and guardians are saying. Obedience is one virtue we all could learn and be protected from.

9. Social Media SHOULD NOT be Your MAIN source of information. Fact check. Always.

God bless all of us.

Coach Francis
Scholastic Basketball Camp