The Philippines is in the world news again having had the distinction of being the first country outside China to record a fatality out of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that has affected several thousands in China and a few people from other countries. More than three hundred are dead in Wuhan City, China.

It would be better to put things into context before we move forward the discussion.

The first confirmed nCoV case in the country has been confined at San Lazaro Hospital in Manila. The patient is a 38-year-old woman. The second case, a 48 year old man in the same health facility is the fatality. Both are Chinese nationals from Wuhan who came to the Philippines. They also have been reported to have traveled to Cebu City before returning to Manila.

Despite the reported capability of the quarantine personnel of the health department manning the airports, both patients managed to slip through the scanners. The new coronavirus has an incubation period of 14 days thus it would be difficult to trace those inflicted upon arrival unless they are already showing symptoms. 

There are a dozen more persons under investigation who are currently confined in different hospitals around the country and a few more are under the mandatory quarantine imposed by the health authorities.

Here lies the problem. It took President Rodrigo Duterte a while before ordering a temporary ban for the entry of Chinese nationals in the country. He was worried that banning the Chinese from entering the country will hurt the relationship that he has been building with China.

He was seconded by Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque who made it clear that he is not recommending the ban albeit temporary as it might hurt the diplomatic relations between China and the Philippines.

We can only imagine how the saints frowned with Duterte’s and Duque’s twisted minds and logic. As several first world nations ordered immediate closure of their doors to travelers from China especially those from Wuhan City, Boracay welcomed a flight loaded with more than 100 Chinese from Wuhan. Two more cruise ships from Wuhan City were allowed to dock in Subic.

It was only after the confirmation of the country’s first nCoV case that all so suddenly, Duterte changed his tone and Duque said he has recommended to the president to implement a ban on the entry of Chinese nationals. 

Of course, Duterte’s change of mind is more political than health-oriented. His prior pronouncement was negatively appreciated even by his cult, the DDS. 

A day after Duterte ordered the temporary ban on the entry of Chinese nationals in the country, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the NCov crisis a global public health emergency. Duque, then attempted to save himself by immediately claiming that he was first to recommend to WHO to make such declaration.

This recycled health secretary must be fired and crucified. Imagine the deaths in China that has reached to 302 and may have doubled as this article is printed and still he was thinking about the diplomatic ties over the health and welfare of the Filipinos in general.

He was saying that his department is more than capable in managing the nCoV cases but could not explain the sudden fatality. Thailand has dozens of cases and admitted a severe case yet after 48 hours declared to the world that they were able to cure the patient.

On the other hand, has the department of Duque traced and quarantined all those people whom the two Chinese had dealings witb prior their confinement?

It’s good to know that the health department has already issued health guidelines in order to avoid contracting nCoV but as of this writing, Malacanang has yet to call for a policy conference on how to approach the problem.

The DOH has yet to coordinate with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on how and what responsibilities to delegate to the local government units (LGUs) in cases that there are reported cases under investigation in their areas.

Several LGUs do not even have the basic knowledge on how to handle viral emergencies as they have trained their resources to disaster management and not in handling virus related cases. 

People have panicked and hoarded medical masks resulting to its non-availability. But why? Perhaps, Secretary Duque should be made to answer. 

Experts say that fatalities are just a mere two percent of the total infections as the virus is not necessarily deadly. Therefore Filipinos should not panic. It’s easy to say that we should not panic as we only have two confirmed cases and one death but this is the Philippines where inefficiency is consistent. 

In a country like ours where intelligence is measured by the number of likes in a post on Facebook and a mere laborer is more empowered and entitled to speak about nCoV than a medical doctor, there is no other way but be more than worried. 

In the meantime, we can only hope that the country’s God, Apollo Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ will learn how to speak Chinese tomorrow so that he can put a stop to the spread of nCoV and bless the minds of Duterte and Duque.