Baguio City Epidemiologist recommends ‘A walk in the park’ to ease pandemic fatigue

July 18, 2021 Metro BLISTT

BAGUIO CITY – Sixteen months on community quarantine due to the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is undeniably taking its toll on the public’s mental health. Dr. Donnabel Panes, City Epidemiologist, acknowledged that more and more individuals are now experiencing the ‘pandemic fatigue.’
The World Health Organization defines pandemic fatigue as “de-motivation to follow recommended protective behaviors, emerging gradually over time and affected by a number of emotions, experiences and perceptions.”
To ease pandemic fatigue, Panes recommends visiting open parks and communing with nature to breath in fresh air.
“While we still have to follow minimum public health standards when going out of our residences, our relaxed restrictions on mobility allows us to enjoy a walk in the park. It is safer to unwind in outdoor settings if only to ease our pandemic fatigue,” Panes explained.
With the emergence of COVID-19 variants which are more transmissible and more fatal.
Panes expects more and more people may experience burnout as a natural response to the prolonged public health crisis considering the restrictive measures with unprecedented impacts on the daily lives of people including those who have not been directly affected by the virus itself.