Coronavirus Lockdown: Safety Precautions

It has now been about a month since the Philippines was placed under lockdown and quarantine.  It started with Manila and Luzon with practically every province and city following suit in the ensuing days. The gist of it is that we all need to stay inside our homes and enter into complete stasis.

https://www.facebook.com/bacolodcitypio/photos/a.207133923116770/912641812565974/?type=3&theater

That is not going to happen. Maybe if I had a hibernation pod I would do it but I don't have one. People need to get out and buy food and some even need to work in so-called essential services. Now to leave your house, in certain quarters, one needs a pass. Only one per family and only one name on the pass.  That means that either the wife or the husband can go out. Not both. If the husband has something to take care of but the wife's name is on the pass he is out of luck!

So you got your pass and need to go out to get food. With public transportation shut down, no jeepnies or taxis or pedicabs or tricycles, how will you do this?  You can walk, use your personal vehicle, or ride in a vehicle the local barangay has provided. Along with the quarantine pass you must also wear a mask.  Any mask will do really. 

https://www.facebook.com/bacolodcitypio/photos/a.217022702127892/906396366523852/?type=3&theater

Homemade masks? Ideally you would want to wear a bandanna at least but you have to work with what you got.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/04/09/2006546/philippines-detects-206-new-covid-19-cases-total-infections-now-4076

With quarantine pass in hand and face mask secured tight you have to pass through a checkpoint before you can get to the store.

After passing the checkpoint you can now enter the real world. After two weeks being cooped up inside it will be fun to see what awaits in the brave new world which lies ahead. It's not totally different but it's not exactly the same.

If you need money then the first stop should be the bank. Be sure to wear a mask if you go inside!

With money in hand the next stop is the supermarket. Each store has taken it's own protective measures to fight COVID-19.  Robinsons Supermarket has shut down one entrance and locked one of the exit doors.

Ostensibly this is to enforce social distancing because now everyone has to line up to enter the store and only so many at a time. But really it's just an unnecessary fire hazard.  The entrances can be manned and people prevented from sneaking in without creating unsafe conditions for all.  Robinsons has also ensconced their cashiers behind a veil of plastic.

Most of them anyway. Not all grocery stores are taking the exact same precautions. No SM Supermarket I have been to has their cashiers behind plastic. One SM has their side door locked while the other has both entrances, front and back, opened. Across town at the other Robinsons they have literally rolled out a carpet for their shoppers.

You step on a wet mat and then pass through the chair tunnel which is like a fire tunnel but without  any people or Pentecostal excess.

Now that you have your groceries it's time to go back home.  No dilly-dallying.  But be careful especially if you are driving your own vehicle.

The city has cut off all the traffic lights in town!!