WE ALL NEED TO HELP PROTECT EACH OTHER

 

By Tom Choy

Vancouver, BC

 

“ We must all help one another or all perish together.”  Carl Sagan

 

Time Magazine recently had an article “Lessons We Learned from the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918.” People were also warned to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays only with their immediate family. Some of those who did not observe this advice indeed caught the flu virus.

 

People were also told to wear masks and social distance. So what Dr. Anthony Fauci of the US Infectious Diseases Center and Dr. Bonnie Henry, the Health Officer of British Columbia are not really original ideas. They have proven effective in the past and are still relevant today.

 

There was no vaccine developed in 1918 compared to today’s operation warp speed vaccine that seemed to have met the deadline of end of 2020 to deliver the first batch of vaccine. Without a vaccine in 1918, the question is, how did the virus disappear? Herd immunity developed when 70% of the population developed immunity from the virus after catching the flu bug. It cost 50,000,000 lives in 1918 worldwide. Today, so far the world lost 1,770,000 people and counting.

 

There are people because of their political leanings and indoctrination by the cable and TV media and social media do not believe in wearing masks nor plan to be vaccinated. North America is a free zone so people are entitled to their free thoughts and speech. The problem is people are put to risk because of their behavior. History and science are on the side of wearing ,masks, social distancing and limiting private parties to the immediate family. Dr. Fauci did not invent the covid protocol.

 

In 1918, people drove to cities instead of fly. They have noted virus transmission after holiday trips. Today, our health care system is burdened by the virus spikes after the Thanksgiving celebrations. California is bursting at the hospital and ICU seams. Reports have it that over 1.3 million people passed through airports recently and we are expecting a huge covid infection surge in 3 weeks.

 

Some LA county run hospitals are almost peaking at the hospital beds capacity and ICUs. Some people are now being treated when the patients are still in the ambulance due to lack of hospital beds.

 

You don’t want to be in emergency room now if it is non-covid reason. If it is for covid reason, hospitals are struggling to accommodate people now.

 

I already lost a schoolmate to Covid. I heard he just went to a liquor store and he got infected. He was hospitalized, sent to ICU, intubated. Unfortunately he did not make it. Our condolences and prayers go to his family.

 

Our Fil-Canadian community recently lost Mei Ling Fuentes, wife of the singing Pastor Ray Ann Fuentes, to covid19. May Mei Ling rest in peace. I have a high school mate and her hubby caught the covid virus too. He was hospitalized and intubated. He survived and can now drive the family car. We all need to follow proven covid protocols of wearing masks, washing hands thoroughly, social distancing and limiting parties to immediate families. Please avoid restaurants and bars that do not have covid protocols. I personally prefer dining at home and drinking cocktails at home instead of bars. I just watch movies on streaming. I can zoom with my friends and drink on-line so to speak.

 

US is expecting that the vaccines will be available by March 2021 for those who want the vaccine. There will always be anti-vaxxers. In Canada, we are expecting by September 2021, Canadians who wish to be vaccinated will be able to do it by then.

 

We need to protect everyone from getting covid. We need to be doubly  more responsible not just for our survival but for our neigbour’s survival too.  Think twice before holding multi-family parties. Avoid crowded places where you can catch covid. Postpone that flight if you can. There will be better times and we want you still around by that time.

( Tom writes for Entertainment Tonight Manila and is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)