Around this time last year, there was a collective excitement over the end of the bleak 2020 and the prospect of a brighter 2021. The optimism had its reasons. The anti-Covid vaccine has rolled out in several countries around the world, and it was just a matter of time when it will be in the Philippines. The number of infections in the country has stayed relatively and comparatively low and selected businesses were allowed to resume operations.
Then, boom! Delta happened.
Everything went back to square one, some say to negative square one. Infection numbers zoomed to the tens of thousands, and lockdowns were imposed again. It is thus not surprising that people are approaching 2022 with a bit more tentativeness, a little more caution— lest we suffer another setback.
“RNA viruses like SARS-CoV-2 really mutate fast; but actually, Covid-19 mutates slower than other RNA viruses like HIV,” says Dr Edsel Salvana, infectious diseases specialist. Because of this nature of the virus, Salvana believes that Covid-19 will still be around in 2022 though hopefully, more manageable in terms of prevention and cure. “We know more about the virus after more than a year,” he adds.
The economist Cielito Habito agrees. “It’s time, as people including health experts point out, to look at Covid-19 not as a pandemic but as endemic. It will always be there so we will just have to dance with it.”
Different sectors are already preparing to meet 2022 with the presence of the virus factored in. In education, two years of online learning took a heavy toll on the studentry, which Habito defines as “the lost generation”.
Denne historien er fra December 2021-utgaven av Tatler Philippines.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra December 2021-utgaven av Tatler Philippines.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
SWEET SWISS SOJOURN
There is an undeniable charm that the Alps hold. Even skiing down its slopes has its own adrenalinefuelled appeal. But one can forego the adventure to indulge in what Switzerland has to offer
CAN THE MOVIE INDUSTRY BE SAVED?
Rising costs, low audience turnout and lack of originality are issues affecting Philippine cinema today. We ask director and Film Development Council of the Philippines Chairman Jose Javier Reyes what needs to be done to ensure its survival
NEW NOSTALGIA
Grammy-winning Gen Z singer songwriter Laufey refuses to be put into boxes and talks on the importance of going off the sheet music' in both performance and life
Perfect HARMONY
Over the past 40 years, OPM icons Pops Fernandez, Martin Nievera, Zsa Zsa Padilla and Gary Valenciano have been captivating audiences with songs about love, life and inspiration. In an interview with Tatler, they shared their journeys and challenges, discussed the current state of the Philippine music industry, and expressed their aspirations for the new generation that is taking OPM to the global stage
LET ME ENTERTAIN YOU
For our inaugural Entertainment and Culture Issue, we spotlight the world of music by featuring 26 exceptional stars among the best and brightest in the country
Night of Glamour
Solidifying its position in the market, the Belo Medical Group has once again showcased why it is one of the top aesthetic practitioners in the country
From Combat to Health
Colonel Ariel Querubin's dedication to well-being echoes a mission of empowering individuals to live healthy, protected lives
More than Meals
Three inspirational women demonstrate how fresh, exceptional food connects and nourishes us across time through luxury brands Sub-Zero and Wolf
Zig Dulay
From thought-provoking dramas to enchanting fantasies, Zig Dulay is reintroducing the Filipino narrative to the world
My Top Shot
Photographer Filbert Kung shares the inspiration behind his Chronology of a Mind exhibition in Milan