Community Quarantine in the Philippines

In 2020, the Philippines have been affected by the virus name COVID-19. Coronavirus disease is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus which in the recent month in the same year has rapidly increased the number of infected people.  This became an outbreak around the world that makes this virus considered a pandemic.

Every country’s government has been thinking of several ways to alleviate the impact of the outbreak while waiting for the best solution to end the virus which is the vaccine. The Philippine government has set health protocols and guidelines that Filipino citizens must follow. The declaration of lockdown is described as an implementation of community quarantine in different areas. In this way, it will limit the movements of people going in and out to lessen the spread of the virus.

 There are three levels of community quarantine; these are enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), and general community quarantine (GCQ). Different community quarantine has variations considering the situation of each area. Localities under the enhanced community quarantine are 100% ordered to stay at home; the residents are restricted to have mass gatherings as well as traveling to other cities or barangays. There will be no public transport and flights in domestic while there will be a limitation on international flights. The work arrangement will be a skeleton workforce on-site in which others will be working at home and some are in the workplace that shall be issued a necessary travel and office order for proper identification in order to provide health and emergency frontline services.  On the other hand, modified enhanced community quarantine is almost similar to the ECQ but in the less strict implementation of community quarantine.  Staying at home is a must and mass gatherings can do but at least 5 maximum as it is still highly restricted. There are controlled inbound travels for OFWs while biking and non-motorized transport are being encouraged but there is no inter-island travel. Skeleton workforce on-site is also the working arrangement of the people. Lastly, the general community quarantine can be considered a temporary implementation with little restriction on the people. This includes that the elderly and youth should stay at home as they are the type of people who are vulnerable and transmitters, they can have the mass gathering at least 10 with restrictions, the public transportation is allowed in a strict social distancing as well as inter-island travel from GCQ to GCQ with safety protocols. There will be alternative work arrangements that the employee or workers should at least have 40 hours’ work in their 4-days work in a week.

The implementation of the community quarantine can decrease the risk of spreading the diseases, especially to those who are at higher risk of infections. It is better to follow the health protocols and guidelines of the government for the safety of the community. As the virus is uncontrollable, be a responsible citizen in order to avoid a higher number of losses in people’s lives. The covid pandemic became the best lesson in our lives to value our life and moments that we only had with our loved ones.

You may share your life lessons and experiences about the pandemic. Thanks for reading!