Cry-seize

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The ongoing COVID-19 disease significantly affects not only human health, environment, business, education, and job, but it also impacts the economy of each country and the everyday routine of human life. There is no viable medication to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus—to control its transmission, face masks are used as primary personal protective equipment (PPE). Moreover, prevention such as the COVID-19 vaccine is significant in avoiding further disease transmission.

According to a study by the World Health Organization (WHO), millions of medical masks are anticipated to be required to respond to the COVID-19 as this crisis is likely to persist. The plastic innovation hub has identified increased production, usage, and high domestic demand for masks, but it generates tons of plastic waste. It is estimated to be 129 billion globally every month.

The COVID-19 Pandemic has had a significant impact on life. Many aspects of old routines, protocols, learning modalities, jobs, inflation, and the economy are affected. Despair and feelings of hopelessness due to the loss of loved ones are also

CH combats illegal drugs with educ

Psychologist Celine Cortez highlights the importance of having “in-top condition mental health” to keep people away from the use of illicit drugs in an awareness drive launched by Santiago City National High School (SCNHS) through the Barkada Kontra Droga (BKD) last October 23.

According to Cortez, nurturing people’s mental health fosters constructive thoughts and behaviors which would help battle the perils of substance abuse.

“The state of our mental health would have ripple effects on our overall well-being. For example, individuals with mental health issues are more likely to be vulnerable to the use of illegal drugs,” she said.

Leading the discussion, the psychologist also underscored that nourishing of the mind should start at an early age stating that youth is the most “joyous” pace of life but could also be the “ultimate turning point” that prompts impulsive and risky decisions.

“Youth is a wonderful age. It is when all the exploration begins, but you just have to remember to find your own pace. Everybody has a different timeline; life has no set of directions that one has to follow,” Cortez added.

The half-day symposium aims to provide City Highers awareness and information to counter the ill effects of chemical abuse amid the government’s crackdown against illegal drugs.

Meanwhile, BKD guaranteed that its awareness campaign against the dangers of narcotics would extend beyond school premises as the club continues to organize activities relevant to illegal drug awareness.

“We established a system that would allow us to incorporate anti-illegal drug campaign into the campus life of the learners across all grade levels,” BKD adviser Christian Jay Verona stated.

Pain and Gain

experienced by many amidst the pandemic. The COVID-19 disease originated in Wuhan, China, according to WHO. It started with several cases of pneumonia with no specific cause.

As time passed, it has affected countries around the world. Based on research, the novel coronavirus disease, or COVID-19, is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, a type of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus. Its initial symptoms are fever, fatigue, and loss of smell and taste. The leading cause of infection spread is the droplets and saliva released by the infected patients through coughing, sneezing, and direct physical contact.

COVID-19 is spread through water droplets from an infected person to another through inhalation or contact wherein the virus makes its way through the mouth, nose, or eyes. The COVID-19 Disease, a respiratory disease produced while coughing, the particles may remain in the air for some time. The accumulation of the SARS-CoV-2 on dust-loaded air and particle matter may be included in the long-term transmission of the virus, especially in long-range transmission. As a result, the absorption of the virus has been studied, and further investigation has been conducted.

According to Wuhan’s collected sample from the Intensive Care Units (ICU), patients that test positive for the COVID-19 disease are not only infected through inhaling the virus-infected water droplets but also by aerosolization of patients from urine or feces. When it comes to its relation to humidity and temperature, based on the evidence of WHO, it is reported to be possibly transmitted in both hot and humid weather, regardless of temperature and humidity.

The viruses consistently mutate and produce variants all around the globe. The news of newly discovered variants of interests or concerns is reported to sometimes affect an individual’s mental health due to the fear of going outside, feeling of loneliness, lacking interaction, and pressure for students because of new modalities in learning, and addiction to gadgets. Parents and breadwinners also report having difficulties financially. Especially since not all families can afford to buy necessities, pay bills, pay debt and eat thrice daily. Some who used to sell products or run their businesses have stated that they are forced to shut down their businesses for the time being due to fewer customers and inadequate pay that can’t sustain their families.

When it comes to economics, there are a lot of changes in price and demand due to small supply, and most companies are closed. Making of masks or other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has become the most extensive production. It gives a high income because wearing masks is part of daily life implemented by WHO and the Department of Health (DOH). However, demand is continuously changing as the COIVD-19 Pandemic is slowly fading away. PPE or masks are essential as they serve as the shield from the spread of the virus, most especially to front liners. Face masks are a simple way to help decrease COVID-19 virus transmissions and save lives.

Masks have different kinds; they can be fabric or cloth, surgical, N95, and valves. Fabric or cloth masks trap droplets released when the person sneezes or coughs, are easy to purchase or make it can be washed and worn again. Surgical masks are loose-fitting and disposable; they are able to filter out large particles in the air and can make sure droplets from the wearer aren’t being spread; it is single-use. While the N95 mask has a higher degree of protection than the cloth and surgical because it can filter out both large and small particles, they are also designed to block 95% of particles and liquids, but it is not for public use and should be served for healthcare workers. Next is a facemask with valves; when people wear this mask, it is easy to breathe out. According to Loma Linda University, they are also inhaling their germs into the air around them, and most of this is banned around the country.

Mask-sive Problem

Moreover, face masks are created to control the pandemic situation. However, they are made of plastic and are adding to a significant amount of pollution. Throwing masks everywhere may cause destruction of the habitats of animals like those in bodies of water. It may also directly cause harm to animals that get trapped in them or mistake them for food. Masks may tear down into microplastic that may enter food chains via animal ingestion. There was a reported bird tangled in a coronavirus mask in a tree and then died after it had wrapped around its body, disabling its ability to fly—cases like these prompt people to use reusable masks that can be washed properly after use. Innovative ways to combat arising problems from using more plastic to prevent COVID-19 are necessary to avoid pollution and further damage to nature.

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In line with the National Mental Health Week Celebration, Santiago City National High School (SCNHS), through the Office of the Guidance and Counseling Service, carried out a webinar on Oct. 15 where Registered Psychometrician and Guest Speaker Mary Grace Gumpal controverts misconceptions in the cultural perspective of mental health.

Gumpal accentuated that there had been an ongoing debacle about the importance of mental health as people have stigmatized it.

She talked through the imprudent beliefs among Filipinos that mental health illness must come with severe diagnostics, and individuals with psychiatric conditions in the country are either infantilized or put under cold

On August 19, 2020, what Gustavo Gonzales had expected to be a day of celebration for frontline workers became a day for mourning his fallen colleague and realizing the risks that come with working amidst the pandemic as a frontline worker in the Philippines. Gonzales honors his fallen colleague, who had been struck down by COVID-19, as a team member of the UN’s Migration Agency. This experience has magnified the real dangers the frontline workers face as people who strive to continue providing life-saving support to those in need. In addition, despite the life-threatening challenges that come their way, the vanguards of healthcare can say that risks are better taken overseas.

The government acknowledges and praises the resilience of Filipinos amid the COVID-19 Pandemic. This often overshadows the need to recognize the people’s needs, especially the front-liners, who are often left uncompensated for risking their lives at work. According to the Department of Health (DOH), the government has proposed that healthcare hirelings are given a Special Risk Allowance (SRA) from the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, frontline workers say that only a selected few are being given the SRA, specifically only those who work directly with COVID-19 patients. “We are also sacrificing ourselves by working and risking our lives to give laboratory results. We are all

“COVID-19 is a life-threatening pandemic. The WHO and DOH implemented protocols such as the process of isolation, quarantine, public hand hygiene, social distancing, sanitation, and wearing of face masks as ways to control the disease. However, the increased usage of masks and plastics has been detrimental to the environment. Therefore, it is time for people to take part in fighting against the COVID-19 Pandemic through maintaining self-hygiene, following protocols, proper disposal of masks, and reducing the use of plastics. It is through the small contributions that we form significant actions that affect the climate crisis we face amidst the alarming cries to seize the pandemic once and for all.

EXHALING WAR ZONES. Myles Kimberly Usman, a grade 9 student of Santiago City National High School (SCNHS), participates in the Mental Health Webinar piloted by the school by watching it live on SCNHS’ official Facebook page last Oct. 15.