Six months ago I was able to write about my hometown, Bontoc. While the world was panicking about the pandemic, this little town remained peaceful as it is while observing precautionary measures and abiding with the safety health protocols to keep the virus at bay. To keep boredom away, especially students, enjoyed treking and hiking the mountain sides and mountain tops. Biking or jogging along the roads overlooking the rivers and rice terraces. Sadly, on mid January of this year the town was shaken with the rapid increase of positive cases of covid-19 especially on one of the barangay in central town. Thus, the father of the town imposed the said barangay on an ECQ-like lockdown starting January 18-31 for faster dissemination.
Bontoc the capital town of Mountain Province, small it may be is the epicenter of governance, education, and commerce. With all four central barangays now back to lockdown due to the detection of the new covid-19 variant known as UK variant. More intense protocols were implemented so as to limit further transmission.
What is UK Variant?
A new variant, B.1.1.7 SARS-COV-2 variant, the virus that causes COVID-19 was first detected in the United Kingdom on September 2020. This variant seem to spread more easily and quickly by 40-70% than any of the other variants which may lead to more cases of COVID-19. It is now prevalent in England and detected in some parts of the world including the United States and Canada. Investigations and studies are still ongoing to further assess the characteristics of this variant.
How did this new variant able to invade a landlocked countryside?
There were 16 specimens positive of the variant. Two returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) from Lebanon, the other two had no known travel history outside the country.
Bontoc was situated among the strong mountains of Northern Luzon, its government had ever since been strict on implementing safety health protocols for its people. The virus, somehow managed to enter the locality with its people coming home. First cases were mostly frontliners (men in uniform) who were expose to it. The UK variant according to news reports, was traced from a person who came from UK on Dec 13. Reached Bontoc with a negative swab test. Therefore, attended Christmas celebration and a ritual the following day. On Dec. 29, the person started to have abdominal pain- a COVID-19 symptom.
in relation with this, my father told me about a family who were returning overseas Filipinos at their vicinity which matched the description above.
The variant was detected on January 22 which I have posted on my noise.cash. Of the 35 specimens from COVID-19 positive, 12 have been confirmed to be of the UK variant.
The mayor's response
Immediate contact tracing was initiated. All four central barangays including another barangay in the locality was placed under enhanced community quarantine. In support to this, the mayor who was on home quarantine due to acquiring the virus himself made all the necessary works through requesting for assistance in both regional and national offices to address the current situation at hand.
For widest dissemination and compliance, the mayor mandated all five barangays for a free mass RT-PRC testing on January 26-28. And for everyone's protection it was done per barangay at identified locations and schedules.
Additionally, the mayor asked everyone's cooperation for those who were swabbed to be on home quarantine until their test results come out.
The mayor was very grateful because of the immediate response from the national government.
In my own point of view, the mass testing was the best action to stop or limit the people's movement. Because it was a small town where one knows one and the movement of people before was just as free except when going to the main town, therefore contact tracing will also lead the whole town to be swabbed. Hence, a mass swab test is the most necessary action to lessen the time and making everyone stay at home so as to contain the virus. It made the frontliners, especially those conducting contact tracing an easier task. They will no longer get too stressed and burnt out from physical and mental exhaustion. It is a onetime quarantine for everyone.
During this hard time, we not only solicite prayers but moral support which the town and the entire province's need for the moment. It is not the time for judgements. The virus is just on everyone's doorstep and no one knows when with just one wrong move, one might catch it that's why each and everyone's support is needed.
Stay safe everyone: proper handwashing, use face mask, social distancing, keep immune system strong.
sources: municipality of Bontoc facebook page, Mountain Province DRRM Office fb page
lead image credits to facebook owner pao depalog tumapang
ps. The other night, my husband was chatting with his boss who's in Canada. The lady informed him that their weekly wage can't be sent yet because they, too were on lockdown due to the rising numbers of UK variant positive in their area. Essential establishments were closed even banks that's why there's no way of sending money. Their pass is only limited to and from their workplace. Intense measures are being observed, that they are not allowed to even take off their masks in their workplace. Me and my husband sent our understanding of the matter and they be more careful because they are more exposed.
pps. you might like to read the story of the suspected index case in town https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3705212776238433&id=100002492406720
z_graeden
So there's a variant there already :"" i wonder about the news here somehow