NO country was prepared to face the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). All relied on the World Health Organization (WHO) for guidance. There were countries that won against the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003, and the Philippines did with two deaths and 14 cases recorded. One should take note, though, that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, and the SARS-CoV, also known as SARS-CoV-1, are both coronaviruses, genetically related to each other but different in one trait: SARS is more fatal and deadly, but less infectious than Covid-19. Even if the country has existing protocols dating back to the 1960 cholera outbreak, Covid-19 tested capacities in vulnerable areas (high population density), population (senior citizens with compromised health issues and frontliners in hospitals) and swiftness of action since the virus was mutating fast and spreading exponentially.

At the early rise of Covid-19, the common reasons forwarded were difficulty in breathing, flu-like symptoms and body aches, among others. Filipinos rarely take themselves to the hospital if they feel like the flu bug is hitting them. So, the moment one goes to the hospital, not knowing one is already a carrier, the front liners are exposed. Some might not even say anything because they do not know that they were already exposed. The initial days were bad both for our medical professionals and the country’s health system.