It was in the middle of March 2021 that the National Capital Region (NCR) started experiencing a “serious surge” in Covid-19 infections.
The OCTA Research Group last March 17 reported that there was a 78 percent increase in the number of Covid-19 cases versus the previous week. They said the Reproduction Number—the “R”—which is the number of people that a Covid-19 positive can infect, in the region at that time was at 1.96. The team said the goal was to bring “R’ to below one to contain virus transmission.
By late March, the surge continued and affected even more people. Last October 2020, the daily reported cases in the country was at 2,000-3,000 levels, but this increased even further when 12,576 new cases were reported on April 3, 2021.
This necessitated the re-imposition of stricter lockdowns in NCR plus four other provinces (Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, Laguna) due to the surge of Covid-19 new cases. Mobility and non-essential movements, mass gatherings and even dining in restaurants were restricted to curb the virus’ further spread and so as not to overwhelm hospitals and healthcare workers.
The China experience
This week, the Department of Foreign Affairs – Foreign Service Institute (DFA-FSI) , together with Philippine Archipelago International Trading Corp., conducted a webinar which featured prominent figures in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the practice deemed instrumental in the management of the Covid-19 pandemic in China.
Titled “Learning from the China Experience – Control and Surge Prevention,” academician Zhang Boli, Honorary President of the Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and recipient of the national honorary title of People’s Hero in August 2020, together with Dr. Jia Zhenhua, Chief Physician of TCM, Doctoral Supervisor and President of Hebei Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, discussed China’s strategies on how they were able to control, manage and prevent further surges in Covid-19 infections in their country.
Dr. Jia Zhenhua said the utilization of TCM, including the practice of good hygiene, played a good part in the prevention and treatment of respiratory infectious diseases in China. He broke down Covid-19 based on what he called “Collateral Disease Theory” and discussed how this is treated using the TCM approach.
The “Collateral Disease Theory” is a theoretical system that contains characteristics of TCM and studies two branches: the “Qi” collateral theory and vessel collateral theory.
One mode of treatment he specifically mentioned was the use of the Lianhua Qingwen capsules. “This is already widely used and distributed in major drugstores in the Philippines,” he said.
For his part, Zhang Boli, who is one of the most prominent figures in China’s fight against Covid-19, illustrated how they integrated the benefits of both Chinese and Western medicine in dealing with the deadly disease.
He also introduced Xuanfei Baidu decoction, another TCM formulation widely used in China’s war versus the disease and likewise stressed the importance of medication. “Quarantine without medicine is only half the success,” he explained.
He also shared how they spread this knowledge with the world through donations of Lianhua Qingwen to different countries around the world that were affected by the disease. Exchange of knowledge through presentations like this webinar were also done in other countries as well.
The Philippines responds
The webinar also featured key personalities from the Philippine government who are tasked with important responsibilities in dealing with Covid-19, namely National Task Force Against Covid-19 Deputy Chief Implementor and Testing Czar Secretary Vince Dizon, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, including DFA Secretary Teodoro “Teddy Boy” Locsin who delivered a few words.
Magalong pointed to how Baguio City navigated through the pandemic, where the local government employed proactive contact tracing and control efforts. This strategy, he said, enabled them to control further spreads, which he likened to a “Hammer and Dance” situation, a two-phase strategy in dealing with the pandemic.
The “Hammer and Dance” strategy starts with a strong confinement stage to temporarily limit economic activity and therefore control the pandemic, which is the “hammer.” The coming up of economic rescue efforts then follow so that companies and households are shielded from negative economic impact.
He also bared the effort of Baguio City to become a smart city by next year, which is part of the city’s Recovery and Resiliency Plan.
For his part, Dizon reported on the status of country’s National Vaccination Program and likewise thanked the support of Chinese foreign service representatives for their country’s supply of Covid-19 vaccines to the country, now standing at 11 million procured and one million donated.
He also expressed gratitude to Philippine Archipelago International Trading Corp. President, Olivia Limpe Aw, as Emergency Use Authorization holder of Sputnik V vaccines, for the supply of the Russia’s Covid-19 vaccine.
Locsin thanked the presenters of the webinar, where he highlighted that knowledge sharing remains to be one of, if not the most, essential form of cooperation with regard to managing Covid-19.
“No one is safe unless everyone is safe.” he said.