For several weeks now, Lagunenses feel a level of freedom not seen since the Covid-19 pandemic began more than two years ago.
Crowding in public places are once again a familiar sight. Business is brisk and many small enterprises are optimistic recovery is at hand after the crippling impact of the pandemic.
People at the vaccination become sparse. Still, despite an intensified information drive, many Lagunenses manifest reluctance to get booster shots.
Why bother? This is an underlying reason for foot-dragging. Cases of Covid-19 are on single-digits while many areas in the province are constantly registering zero active cases.
Events in our neighboring Asian countries should serve as a warning. This pandemic is not yet over!
China, Hong Kong and South Korea hailed their own success stories in the global drive to eradicate Covid-19. Now, these countries now face a deluge of cases.
In China, in particular, the surge could be testing the government’s resolve to stick to its “Zero Covid” policy.
Hong Kong, meanwhile, now has one of the world's highest death rates due to Covid-19, a surge that has killed thousands of unvaccinated senior citizens.
Adding to the worry of our health officials is the fact that over two million of the “target population” in Calabarzon region have yet to receive even their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccines.
These should serve as a stark reminder for all that "no one is safe until everyone is safe."