Tag Archives: COVID-19

Mask Upgrade

My employer has started to gradually transition us to working at the office after almost three years of working remotely because of the pandemic. So I decided to finally upgrade the face mask that I wear to the office from a KN95 to an Aura 1870+ Respirator N95 Face Mask by 3M.

3M 1870+ Respirator N95 Face Mask
  • Here’s what I like with the Aura N95 compared to the KN95:
    Straps that go over the back of my head and neck, so virtually no strain on my ear lobes
  • Has a better fit hence a better seal over my mouth and nose
  • Give me more confidence that I have better protection from airborne pathogens and pollution

Three years since the pandemic began and I’m quite proud to say that my family has been able to avoid getting COVID-19. We plan to stay that way because masks work. COVID-19 is still here. COVID is airborne.

Episode 3: Stopping the pandemic, rapid tests & social spiders

Podcast, , , ,

Featured in this episode:

What have been the most effective method in stopping COVID-19 spread

Stopping the spread of COVID-19 involves layers of methods coming together in unison

Frequent & rapid testing can help stop the pandemic in weeks

Early detection of those who have the virus, isolating or treating would speed up the victory against the pandemic

Social spiders

Spider colonies do exist and it’s remarkable!

Face shields offer least amount of protection

Daily dose, , , ,

Based on current evidence, face shields offer the least amount of protection from the spread of SARS-CoV-2 – the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. How so? Well, because physics!

It cannot be stressed enough, COVID-19 is airborne – it is mainly transmitted via aerosols that float in the air which can get around face shields. If you’re not wearing a mask, a face shield is useless and even gives you a false sense of security. Listen to the science: face shields alone will not protect you from COVID-19.

If you’re still not convinced, watch the video below to see how virus-carrying aerosols get around face shields and spread in the air:

So please, do everyone a favor by wearing mask – surgical masks are better if you can’t or don’t want to wear an N95 respirator.

From Russia with vaccine

Opinion, , , , , , , , ,

The image above sums up the process of how a vaccine is developed. Now that we’re living in a global pandemic, a vaccine is seen as something that will bring an end to lockdowns, economic downturns, and a return to normalcy. Hence the next image:

Scientists and vaccine makers around the world are racing to make one that is safe and effective against SARS-CoV-2 with the World Health Organization leading the global effort at an unprecedented pace. At the moment, there are more than 165 vaccines being developed of which 31 are in various stages of human trials.

The latest to grab international headlines is dubbed Sputnik-V which was announced by no less than Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 11 as ‘ready for public use.’ Much like how the first Sputnik satellite drew global attention back in 1957, Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine brought much shock and awe the world over.

The shock as scientists and medical experts has condemned Russia’s approval of a COVID-19 vaccine that has skipped Stage 3 phase of clinical trials. Apart from the risks of side effects that could be harmful, a vaccine that turns out to be ineffective could undermine immunization efforts the world over and not just against the coronavirus. This would even play into the hands of anti-vaxxers to further their agenda. Overall, it threatens global health atop of the natural threat that is COVID-19 which has already killed millions, destroyed livelihoods, and caused worldwide suffering.

It didn’t help that President Durterte was quick to announce that Russia would be supplying the vaccine to the Philippines, something that he has been desperately clinging on to as his administration has struggled and miserably failed to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country. Never mind that even Russian health experts have voiced their opposition to fast-tracking Sputnik-V, Duterte even volunteered to be the first Filipino to get injected.

Days after his late-night address, his spokesperson confirmed that indeed the Philippines would be participating in the Phase III trials for the Russian vaccine. Ironic since the administration has used another controversial vaccine – Dengvaxia, to score political points against the opposition.

If this is not madness, I don’t know what else is.

Myth: Filipinos lack discipline

Daily dose, , , , , , , ,

Three data sets utterly destroy the government’s mantra that Filipinos lack discipline and that this is the reason why COVID-19 cases – despite having the longest lock down in the world, continue to increase by the thousands each day.

A survey by the Institute of Global Health Innovation of the Imperial College London in partnership with YouGov came up with the following figures:

  • 91% wore masks when they were outside
  • 83% washed hands w/ soap & water
  • 77% avoided crowded areas
  • 61% avoided going out in general
  • 70% avoided touching objects in public

Google’s COVID-19 Community Mobility Report (pdf) based on “aggregated, anonymized sets of data from users who have turned on the location history setting” for their Google Account paints a similar picture covering the period of June 2 to July 14:

  • 46% decline in retail & recreation areas, including restaurants, cafes, shopping centers, theme parks, museums, libraries and movie theaters
  • 20% decline in places like grocery markets, food warehouses, farmers markets, specialty food shops, drug stores and pharmacies
  • 25% decline in places like national parks, public beaches, marinas, dog parks, plazas, and public gardens.
  • 56% decline in places like public transport hubs such as subways, bus, and train stations.
  • 44% decline for places of work
  • 23% increase for places of residence. In other words, Filipinos stayed at home.

Marlen V. Ronquillo in his The Manila Times column talks about how a recent survey by the Asian Development Bank ‘shatter the myth that Filipinos are pasaway‘:

63.2% decrease in mobility – Filipinos stayed at home even in the congested areas where at least 10 people are crammed inside a small shanty.

A couple of days ago, Vince Dizon, the so-called ‘testing czar’ regurgitated the myth that ‘discipline’ is the key to beating COVID-19. He casually dismissed testing, contact tracing, strengthening the health care system and using available technology as essential tools against the coronavirus. It is bad enough that up until now, public health experts have taken a back seat in the government’s response against COVID-19, it’s infuriating to hear such ridiculous notions from those who are put in such a position.

I have said it before and will say it again, from the experience of other countries, COVID-19 can be beaten. The struggle only becomes more difficult – at the expense of human lives, when the government itself becomes another enemy in this pandemic.