CORONAVIRUS DIARIES Week #31: COVID-19 Pandemic Fatigue

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.”

-Robert Louis Stevenson-

 

Today marks the 222nd day of our COVID-19 Pandemic journey. As the government continues its efforts to contain the COVID-19 virus, some people are now experiencing “Pandemic Fatigue”. With all the efforts to safeguard ourselves, some of us are now tired to comply with the protocols such as wearing face masks, observing physical distancing, and other health protocols.

Even we are experiencing Pandemic Fatigue, we should continue to comply with health preventive measures. The COVID-19 Case Bulletin published by the Ministry of Health shows that everyone should still follow these health protocols. There’s no room for complacency in following these health measures.

Update of COVID-19 Cases in Kuwait as of October 19, 2020

The photo was taken from: Instagram: Kuwait MOH

 

The Kuwait Ministry of Health (MoH) reported six hundred eighty-six (686) new cases. This brings to the total of 116,832 confirmed COVID-19 cases. The MoH also reported 9 new COVID-19 deaths bringing to a total of 710 deaths. However, The MoH positively reported that there are 746 new recoveries from COVID-19. This brings to the total of 108,606 COVID-19 recoveries. As of today’s date, there are 7,516 total active cases in the country, and still optimistic that they will recover from COVID-19.

Compared to last week’s data, the total COVID-19 confirmed new cases significantly increased. This implies that we should continue to comply with the health protocols being implemented despite the Pandemic Fatigue that everyone is experiencing. There was also an increase in COVID-19 related deaths and total active cases based on the COVID-19 case bulletin. With the MoH COVID-19 Bulletin, people should be reminded to follow health protocols and be more cautious.

 

COVID-19 Pandemic Fatigue

Some countries across the globe are now experiencing their second or third COVID-19 Cases wave. Among these countries are the United States, European Countries, and even Kuwait. These countries immediately re-implement their strict lockdown measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus. But why we are now here again?

The World Health Organization sees the swift reopening of economies and lack of adherence to health protocols are the main reasons why countries are experiencing COVID-19 case resurgence. It was also driven by an individual factor which is impatience.

Impatience by individuals was also the main driver why COVID-19 cases are resurging. Each one of us is eager to end this pandemic and resume our normal lives. Some of us get tired of the strict health protocols and that’s why some of us are ignoring these protocols. With no end to the Pandemic insight, a public weariness is setting in, sending people flocking to pubs, family gatherings, and sporting events.

As per World Health Organization, they found out that almost half of the European population is experiencing “Pandemic Fatigue”. They said that apathy and COVID-19 case resurgence are dangerous combinations and pose threats to the health safety of each one of us. This may cause a deadly number of COVID-19 cases.

The key to keeping low COVID-19 infection rates is changed behavior. South Korea, Japan, New Zealand, and Australia are successful in managing low COVID-19 infection rates by changed behavior and strict and effective containment measures.

For us to achieve the same situation as South Korea, Japan, New Zealand, and Australia, we should change our behavior with regards to following health protocols. We should strictly comply with these measures to protect ourselves and help in curbing the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

 

Tocilimuzab, a potential COVID-19 treatment, failed in clinical trials

Tocilimuzab

This photo was taken from: The New York Times

Tocilimuzab was given by doctors to thousands of COVID-19 patients in the hopes of preventing deadly complications. However, three clinical studies published this week have shed doubts not just on the drug but on the hypothesis underlying its use.

Tocilimuzab is used for rheumatoid arthritis because it suppresses part of the immune response. This idea led to the use of the drug, Tocilimuzab, to treat those infected with the coronavirus made a lot of sense.

But three newly published clinical studies found out that Tocilimuzab did not reduce the COVID-19 death rates of patients. It is not clear why the drug failed.

“Doctors should not be desperate to find treatments even they struggle to keep up with the surge of COVID-19 studies,” Dr. Jonathan Parr, an infectious disease expert at the University of North Carolina said.

Perhaps, we should remain hopeful that possible COVID-19 treatment should be discovering as soon as possible. With the availability of COVID-19 treatment medication, it shed a light on the hope that the pandemic will somehow show its way towards its ending.

 

 

“Mouthwash will not save you from the coronavirus”

Several Mouthwash Products in Shelf

This photo was taken from: The New York Times

 

This week, a series of controversial articles filled social media sites with a tantalizing idea: mouthwash can “inactivate” coronavirus and help stop it from spreading.

A recent study found that by submerging virus-infected cells with mouthwash, a coronavirus that triggers common colds – not the one that causes COVID-19 – can be killed. According to the researchers, the product they tested “may provide an additional level of protection against” the new coronavirus.

Experts cautioned against interpreting too much into the study’s findings, which may or may not be applicable to the new coronavirus. The research did not look into this deadly new virus, nor did it test if mouthwash affects how viruses spread to other people.

“I don’t have a problem with using Listerine. But it’s not an antiviral,” said Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at Colombia University.

Since no human volunteers were recruited to gargle the items in question, the results have limited application in the real world, according to other experts.

Experts warn that mouthwash and nasal rinses should not be misused or ingested in large quantities, as they can be harmful.

 

Reduction of Expatriate Numbers in Kuwait

Kuwait Parliament

This photo was taken from: Gulf News

 

As part of efforts to “rebalance” Kuwait’s population, the National Assembly unanimously enacted a law to reduce the number of expatriates in the country.

The new law was enacted after introducing changes such as removing the previously planned quota scheme for expat nationalities after the Cabinet objected to the scheme. The law requires the government to develop mechanisms within the next 12 months to reduce the number of foreign nationals.

Because of the COVID-19 Pandemic, which has resulted in low oil prices that have weakened Kuwait’s economy, the law will set in motion a series of reforms and measures to reduce the expat numbers. The financial impact prompted calls for the government to decrease the number of expatriates and increase work opportunities for Kuwaitis, who make up just 30% of the population.

The Cabinet will issue executive decisions regularly to enforce the mechanisms, and the Assembly will receive periodic progress reports. According to the law, the frameworks would track the number of expats in Kuwait, the country’s national development program, and the country’s need for expat staff. Expats will be given guidelines on how to pass their citizenship and policies on how to replace expats with Kuwaiti employees.

Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah said in June that Kuwait would like expatriate numbers to reduce to 30% from 70% of the country’s population. Kuwaiti lawmakers have already proposed that all expat workers in the government be replaced within a year. Last June, the country declared that for the year 2020-2021, expatriates would be prohibited from working for the state-owned Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) and its subsidiaries. Expat job applications would be frozen, appointments would be canceled, and current workers’ contracts would not be renewed, according to the decision.

The COVID-19 Pandemic has caused many expats to leave Kuwait this year. This concerns our OFWs in Kuwait because they will be directly hit by this new policy. It entails a reduced number of jobs for our hardworking OFWs. If this policy has taken into effect, where can our hardworking OFWs look for jobs that can sustain their family’s needs?

 

The Philippines now allows entry for non-essential foreign travel

NAIA Airport Lobby

This photo was taken from: Airport Technology

 

Starting October 21, the Philippines lifted a ban on non-essential international travel by Filipinos, but the immigration bureau says the change did not immediately result in a surge in tourism and leisure departures.

Travelers to other countries must have confirmed roundtrip tickets, travel and health insurance, a statement acknowledging the risks of travel and trip postponements, and a COVID-19 medical test completed within 24 hours of departure.

 

Newly Arrived Passports

This photo was taken from: Facebook: Philippine Embassy in Kuwait

 

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: Mga Kababayan sa Kuwait, you may now claim your newly-arrived passports from the Philippines for passport releasing. You may click this link (https://bit.ly/2HcY9az) to check if your name is included in the list.

If your name is on the list, you may claim your new passport immediately. The Embassy is open for passport releasing from Sunday through Thursday, 7:00 A.M. until 12:00 P.M.

ONLINE APPOINTMENT IS NOT REQUIRED for claiming your new passport. Bring bottled water or other beverages, and a handy fan as protection against the extreme heat weather.

 

Appointment Slots for Non-Passport Services

This photo was taken from: Facebook: Philippine Embassy in Kuwait

 

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: Mga Kababayan in Kuwait, the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait wishes to inform everyone that appointment slots for non-passport services for the 25-29 October 2020 are now available.

You may visit https://kuwaitpe.setmore.com to secure an appointment slot for availing of non-passport services.

You may also visit https://bit.ly/3to4TEI for the full list of requirements for non-passport service.

To conclude our COVID-19 Update, as of 19 October 2020 Kuwait has a total tally of 116,832 COVID-19 cases. Meanwhile, the Philippines have 359,169 cases. The Department of Health reported 2,638 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases with 83.1% mild cases and 11.3% asymptomatic cases. The DoH posted 43,191 total active cases, a slight decrease compared to last week’s data.

Compared to last week’s data, there’s a slight decrease in the single-day newly reported cases number of active cases in the country. Despite the decreasing number on a week-to-week basis, we should not be complacent and get “Pandemic Fatigue”. Let us continue to adhere to health standards being implemented by the authorities. Let us hope that the COVID-19 Pandemic will soon end.

 

MUST READ AND SHARE!

My Trusted Page of References for COVID-19 Diaries

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CORONAVIRUS DIARIES: Week #29 Alarming ICU Occupancy and Death Rate related to COVID-19 in Kuwait

CORONAVIRUS DIARIES: Week #30 Imposition of Fines for Violating Health Protocols

 

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