Life in the time of COVID-19 lockdowns

Each country affected by the spreading coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 has different ways of coping, largely depending on the severity of contagion and the resources that the respective governments have at their disposal.

In China where it all started, the government declared a total lockdown in Wuhan, a city of close to 12 million people, where full mobilization of health services and facilities were implemented.

Schools as well as malls, movie houses, non-essential businesses were closed. Regular fumigation and disinfection spraying were conducted, while building sterilization was done several times a day.

At the height of the infection, people who traveled were required to wear facemasks when using public transportation. Infrared body temperature readers were used to determine fever for people entering buildings and those with fever were sent to quarantine.

Apartment blocks were restricted to residents only and if someone in a building tested positive, everyone else was forced to quarantine.

Mass testing

In South Korea, the government adopted a mass testing program that could be completed in as fast as 15 minutes. Results were made available from six to 24 hours, and could show the presence of the virus even during incubation.

Data was then fed into a system to guide the health care system in managing cases. Patients categorized as low risk were asked to go on self-quarantine, but were able to interact with health workers through an app.

In the case of Daegu, considered the center of the COVID-19 outbreak in Korea where three-fourths of all confirmed cases were monitored, patients were notified of an available bed through the app, and were specially transferred to the designated hospital facility under the supervision of trained medical personnel.

Technology played a big role in tracking down possible people exposed to the virus that began with the 200,000-strong Shincheonji Church of Jesus. Daegu City officials say that they will soon complete the tests for all members.

Difficulty in coping

Italy, which now has the second largest number of confirmed cases after China, is still grappling with implementing a sustained mass testing similar to what Korea is doing. Similarly, the country is agonizing over the extent of its imposed lockdown on its 60 million citizens.

Police have been politely requesting people on the streets to go home after the government once again tightened its mobility restrictions. Tourism Italy is taking its biggest hit as streets usually crowded with foreigners are eerily empty.

Iran, which counts the third largest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the world, has faltered from a delayed action by its government. In less than a month, the number of infected has risen from two to over 14,000, and has killed more than 700.

The Iranian government has appealed to the rest of the world for help even as it continues to avoid imposing containment measures, including closing or restricting access to its holy sites. Unchecked mass voting for the legislative elections was also held last Feb. 21.

‘Community quarantine’

In the Philippines, where COVID-19 deaths have already reached double digit, our government prefers to call its recent attempt at curbing the virus spread from Metro Manila as a “community quarantine” instead of a lockdown.

Being the heart of the nation, Metro Manila has a resident population of about 14 million, although this number swells to about 17 million with transient workers entering the metropolis during the day. The metro is considered the world’s most densely populated city.

Last Thursday, two days before the imposed community quarantine of Metro Manila, a rising trend of infections who had no history of travel to other countries was noted. New deaths were also reported, with conclusive evidence pointing out that community transmission of the virus was on the rise.

As you read this, more cases of infection and death continue to be reported even as anti-contagion efforts in other parts of the country are initiated. The worst hit are daily wage earners who need to put in work for the day to bring home money for food and other essentials.

It’s going to be a long month as Filipinos in affected areas adjust to a new lifestyle where their movements are largely restricted by imposed curfew hours. With malls shut, the metro has become almost like a ghost town.

It’s still too early to gauge whether our government’s containment initiatives will work and how well the health system will cope. Definitely, in the coming days, new guidelines will be needed from government on how to assist people who will need help the most.

We will overcome

If it’s any consolation, medical science tells us that humanity can overcome this fierce virus. If nations can take advantage of the modern ways by which the health system deals with diseases, the death toll can be limited.

Stay safe everyone. Let’s diligently follow the rules outlined for us. Bear in mind, as one publication wrote, that catching the virus is not easy if we are careful. Frequent, careful hand washing is a must to stop transmission. Maintaining “social distancing” matters, too.

To be at high risk of catching the virus, you need to live with someone infected, or to have had direct physical contact with one. Or you need to be coughed at or sneezed on by someone infected. Or you should have had face-to-face contact within two meters for more than 15 minutes.

Definitely, you don’t catch it from an infected person that you had passed by on the street. That said, keep calm but vigilant.

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