OPINION: Pencing by Mario O. Feliciano, Jr.

‘Delta variant on the rise’

WITH ALL probabilities, the deadlier Delta variant triggers the widespread increase of the Covid-19 cases, worldwide, and counting even more by the millions. As of late, total Covid-19 cases around the globe climbed rapidly to 219 million with a staggering 4.5 million deaths so far.

The United States still clings to No. 1 spot with 40 million cases and 648,000 deaths; (2^nd) India with 33 million and 441,000 deaths; (3^rd) Brazil with 20.9 million and 583,000 deaths; (4^th) United Kingdom with 6.94 million and 133,000 deaths; and (5^th) Russia with 6.89 million and 183,000 deaths. Other countries that followed are the following: (6^th) France; 7^th Turkey; 8^th) Argentina; 9^th) Iran, and 10^th) Colombia, all breaking the millions mark, as well.

The Philippines keeps its 20^th spot with 2.06 million cases and 34,062 deaths just behind Indonesia which climbs to 13^th spot in the world standings, as it accounts for over 4 million cases with at least 135,000 deaths.

Other ASEAN countries coming next behind Indonesia and the Philippines, are Malaysia (23^rd) with 1.82 m and 17,883 deaths; Thailand (29^th) with 1.27 m and 12,631 deaths; Vietnam (51^st) with 511,000 and 12, 793 deaths; Cambodia (109^th) with 94,839 and 1,950 deaths.

In the Philippines with 2.06 million cases, Metro Manila has it biggest bulk of Covid-19 with 681,000 and 9,059 deaths; (2^nd) Calabarzon with 355,000 and 4,078 deaths; (3^rd) Central Luzon with 197,000 and 4,445 deaths; Central Visayas with 123,000 and 3,388 deaths; and Western Visayas with 94,163 and 1,971 deaths.

In our La Bella Zamboanga, the total confirmed Covid-19 cases have reached nearly 13,000 now or more with almost 12,000 recoveries, and over 6,000 deaths

The Department of Health revealed that the fully-vaccinated people across the country are more than 14 million and those who already received their 1^st dose numbered to over 19 million. Still too far from its target goal of vaccinating at least 70 percent of its whole population of over 100 million Filipinos to achieve herd immunity against the surging Covid-19 disease. DOH could only manage up to 17 percent, by now-hence, a lot more needed to do for its sparkling performance vs. these different variants rearing their ugly heads one by one, nay giving any hint when it’ll stop coming.

Many health scientists themselves are at a loss, or are clueless, as to how, and up to where their great know-how in the medical field, can handle the immense health crisis that the world is facing right now.

Again, I tell you for the nth time, this is no joke anymore on insisting on our still man-made solution or formula in addressing a gravely potent contagion like this unseen Covid-19 coronavirus. This is absolutely, a spiritual woe that besets the whole mankind in real time. There’s a need for us all to look up high to heaven much longer than we ever did before, or have been doing at present. 

God is so merciful if only we sincerely return back to Him as His real children again. Without anyone knowing, upon our birth in the flesh, we’re all sinners—the reason we need to be born again, no longer in the flesh, but in the Spirit of the Holy One, our God Almighty Father. Let’s all start doing His Will by the Words as written in the Holy Scriptures, and all these maladies and our malaises on earth, will just disappear. To man it’s impossible, but to God nothing is impossible! God bless us all! (jayfeliciano2@yahoo.com)