This group of doctors made a COVID-19 primer in Tagalog, Bikol, Bisaya, and Ilokano

By now, you’ve probably digested enough information about COVID-19.

We’re neck deep into this mess, and information is one of the most crucial tools that we can use to stay sane while we’re stuck at home. We’re all trying our best to feel normal in the midst of this crisis — working from home, talking to friends and family via video call, trying to stay healthy.

We see articles and infographics explaining the pandemic in English. And so far, there have been few efforts to reach out to Filipinos who do not have the same English literacy like us Twitter tambays — Filipinos who also need to know and understand what COVID-19 really is and what they should be doing to stay safe. 

Last week, a group of doctors penned a 53-page document explaining COVID-19 in Tagalog. In it, you’ll see easy-to-digest explanations that answer even the simplest of questions like “Ano ang coronavirus?” and  “Ano ang COVID-19?” as well as mythbusters like “Kailangan mo ba magsuot ng medical mask?”. 

Ralph Fonte, one of the doctors who made the document, explained in a Facebook post that information and communication is integral these days, and he and his friends worked on this document in hopes of providing an easy to understand explanation about COVID-19 to Filipinos. Their team is also currently working on an Ilokano and Bisaya version of the document, in hopes of reaching an even greater audience.

Read the Tagalog, Bicol, Bisaya, and Ilokoano versions. For more information, you can check out their Facebook page.

Art by Sam Bumanlag

Infographics are based on the primer made by Paolo Miguel Tiausas, Dr. Alexandria Therese Tuason, Dr. Ysabel Regina Ortiz, Dr. Kassandra Disini Viloria, Dr. Christy Ann Padre, and Dr. Ralph Lorenz Fonte.