UNICEF: How to Protect Our Kids & Family to Survive the Covid-19 Pandemic?

Awesome Chat with Dr Yella of UNICEF
Full Transcript here:
blog: How to Protect Our Kids & Family to Survive the Covid-19 Pandemic?
www.ourawesomeplanet.com/awes...
Introduction
Dr. Mariella S. Castillo:
Check if they're experiencing or spreading stigma. You know that the outbreak has brought with it numerous reports of discrimination around the world. So it's important to check that your children are neither experiencing nor contributing to the bullying. Explain to them that coronavirus has nothing to do with what someone looks like, where there are a from or what language they speak. And if they have been bullied, they should feel comfortable telling an adult whom they trust.
Anton Diaz:
All right. Good afternoon. Good afternoon. Welcome to the awesome families out there. My name is Anton Diaz, founder of Our Awesome Planet. Welcome to our awesome chat with UNICEF. You know, one of the legit ways to continue to support COVID-affected families and communities here in Manila is by supporting legitimate organizations like UNICEF. So this afternoon we're talking to Dr. Yella Castillo of UNICEF to talk about the situation and how they're helping the communities here in Manila. Hi, good afternoon, Dr. Yella.
Dr. Mariella S. Castillo:
Hi Anton. Good afternoon.
Covid-19 Facts by UNICEF
Anton Diaz:
And so first things first, we're now on the 21st day of the lockdown in Metro Manila. Can you give us an overview of the COVID situation here in your point of view, or UNICEF's point of view?
Dr. Mariella S. Castillo:
All right. Well, according to the most recent case bulleting from DOH, and they issue this every day, as of yesterday at 4:00 PM there are now 3018 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines. There have been 136 deaths due to COVID and 52 patients have recovered. The hotspot really remains to be in the 60 to 69 age group followed by the 50 to 59 year old age group. So it affects really older adults. They're slightly more males than females, 61%. The other hotspot in terms of places will be National Capitol Region or NCR. 55% of all confirmed cases are here in Metro Manila. Then the other big hotspot is Davao. And the NCR accounts for 66% of all deaths. Of the 17 regions in the Philippines, 16 out of 17 have reported COVID-19 cases already. The only region that has not reported a case is Caraga or region 13.
Dr. Mariella S. Castillo:
Among those who died from COVID-19, we know that there are certain populations that are most at risk. So among the 136 Filipinos who died, the most affected age group is 72 to 79 years old. The 73% are males. So far, the youngest is 34 years old and the oldest is 89 years old. And more than three fourths of these persons who died have what we call co-morbidities, meron din silang sakit that include diabetes, chronic kidney disease or hypertension, heart disease, bronchial asthma or cancer.
Dr. Mariella S. Castillo:
So today we're on day 21 of the enhanced community quarantine to help flatten the curve. And the Philippine government has been implementing actions on all fronts to address this global pandemic that's affecting our country. So first, DOH is further strengthening its capacity in COVID testing. In the beginning we only had one testing center. That's our RITM in Alibang. But now they opened five other subnational testing centers and many more. And it's all on the DOH website, but are more than 29. Not to mention they're private hospitals that do COVID testing.
Dr. Mariella S. Castillo:
DOH is strengthening hospital preparedness, rapid response, risk communication and very important information dissemination with its full support from UNICEF Philippines. Also, the government is looking at alternative locations for large scale quarantine facilities so that we do not overwhelm the hospitals. And LGUs are setting up their own quarantine facilities. So for example, the Interagency Task Force is reportedly planning three makeshift quarantines sites, one in Rizal Memorial Stadium, one in World Trade Center and one in PICC. We hear also of other regions setting up their own temporary quarantine sites.