By Monsi A. Serrano
The plan to open movie houses and other entertainment centers in places under general community quarantine or GCQ shocked and worried me, given the fact that every day cases of COVID-19 are rising. Now that this is no longer a plan, but some sort of a gift to the public on on post-Valentine’s Day, I am rocked to my core.
Yes, there are already vaccines against COVID-19 on the horizon, but let us also be reminded that there are new variants of the disease quietly and invisibly spreading in our midst. This weekend alone, there were 19 new COVID-19 variant cases confirmed by the Department of Health, including a 10-year-old boy among three cases in Davao Region – all of them mysteriously unassociated with one another.
Yet, the DOH has been holding back, saying there is no community transmission. Perhaps, that’s because there might be more cases of the new variants that have not been discovered yet. And the truth is, we don’t have the vaccine yet because the paperwork has been hung up by people who won’t be identified, of course, by the government.
I know how tough it is for the government to strike a balance between jumpstarting our economy, keeping it running and, at the same time, ensuring the health and wellness of our everyday people. By now, every one of us wants to take our revenge on this pandemic and enjoy life. Hence, the call to get their popcorn is so strong and gladly welcomed by many not withstanding the fact the danger that it brings.
However, no amount of understanding the eagerness of everyone to go out and relax, will convince me to open our neighbors, our families, our friends or our associates to unnecessary risks. These risks are about life itself. Once life is lost, no amount of regrets can console the grieving or bring the dead back.
I admire the exercise of prudence on the part of the LGU executives as they seek the IATF to reconsider its move. Allowing this kind of activity will certainly result in a spike in new cases of COVID-19 in the country. Personally, I am not okay yet of this move given the fact that it is not essential.
Everybody can watch in the comfort of their own homes, get their popcorn and favorite drink. Just like in the movies, we can sit back, relax and get cozy. What I dread to happen now that cinemas have reopened, is that after the popcorn celebration, it might be capped with 3-in-1 coffee and wake biscuits. God forbid!