Hey there guys! It's almost a month that I haven't made a new post here on TravelFeed. The reason why I didn't have the time to write is because of my new work-at-home job that keeps me busy for six days a week. I am trying to be productive while under lockdown for a month after briefly getting out last March 29 for a few hours. Despite that I saved my money from buying Starbucks or Coffee Bean frappe almost daily, my residual bills would never stop.
Anyways, I would like to give you an update about our situation here in Bacolod City.
* Our lockdown began on March 30 and it was supposed to end on April 13. However, both Bacolod City and the Negros Occidental province have extended the lockdown until April 30. After the national government have assessed our situation, they have classified both our city and province as moderate risk. Therefore, they are recommending us to downgrade to General Community Quarantine beginning May 1st. Despite that the mayor and governor would like to extend it to another week after April 30, the national government has the final say and they have no choice but to follow.
* Other cities like Metro Manila, Makati, Bulacan, Bataan, Quezon City, Pampanga, Cebu City, Antique, Iloilo City, Davao City and a few others are being classified as high risk, which they're subjected to extended lockdown until May 15 due to the rise of infections in those areas. Low and moderate risk cities and provinces like Bacolod City and Negros Occidental are going to be downgraded to General Community Quarantine on May 1st until the 15th.
* During the lockdown, the local government unit is strictly imposing a number coding system. All home quarantine pass holders that ends in 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 can only go out on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. As for the even numbers 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8, they are permitted to go out on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Total lockdown was implemented during Sundays, and it was a surprise that almost everyone is cooperative.
* Just recently, there is a new positive case in a barangay in Banago. The new case was a 65-year old woman. In her house, there are 15 of them and they have been quickly isolated and taken swab tests. Since it's a densely populated area, the city has marked the barangay as "Ultra Risk Area" where no one can go in our out of the premises. Any household who is within the 50-meter radius of the patient's home are included in the extreme lockdown. The barangay officials will be the ones to provide relief goods for them for at least 2 weeks. The area was already under disinfection by the local authorities.
* The Patient #5 from Bacolod City who recovered from COVID-19 after hospitalization and home quarantine was tested positive again after a recent swab. Just like in South Korea, there are those who recovered from the disease are tested positive once again. It's likely a reactivation of the virus. We are not yet sure if 14 days is enough to say that it's negative, but there are sources that the virus can live up to 37 days in your body.
Here are the new rules imposed by the government for cities and provinces that are under the General Community Quarantine:
1. Only people aged between 21 and 59 are allowed to go out of their houses to buy essential goods and work without the need of a home quarantine pass. Citizens below 21 and above 60 are not permitted to go out of their houses. Wearing of mask when going outside is still mandatory.
2. Curfew is still implemented by the local government units (LGUs) except for those who are having night shifts like BPOs, etc. In Bacolod City, the curfew time is exactly 10 PM.
3. Liquor ban is strictly observed. However, you can drink liquor in your home and not in public.
4. Any form of mass gathering like attending churches, seminars, etc., is still prohibited. Opening of classes are still not permitted (they may likely resume it on September).
5. All borders from and to Bacolod City are still implementing heavy restrictions whether by air, sea or land except the delivery of essential goods and services.
6. Malls may partially open but only a handful of stores are allowed to operate like supermarkets, pharmacies, banks, laundry shops, restaurants (take out only) and hardware. They will only limit the number of people who can go inside the mall and to follow physical distancing. Security guards will check your temperature before going inside. If you are having high fever or feeling sick, you are not allowed to go inside.
7. Priority and essential construction projects are allowed to resume.
8. The physical distancing rules in public transportation are still pending release. We have to wait for the final announcement from the city mayor.
BREAKING: The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod is appealing to the Inter Agency Task Force for the city to extend the lockdown because of pending swab results and the local transmission of Patient #8 and #9 in Bacolod City and Patient #5 was tested positive again. We will wait for the outcome if there will be an extension or continue to downgrade after April 30.
How am I doing these days?
It all started on March 15 when my mom was exposed on our neighbor who is considered Patient Under Monitoring with a travel history in Clark and Manila. They didn't inform me ahead after I contact with my mom. I was suppose to hang out with my best friend, but my dad told me not to take risk to potentially spread the virus outside.
I self-quarantined until March 28, and both my mom and I are feeling fine with no symptoms at all. I briefly go out with my sister after 14 days to buy my immune booster vitamins (Usana Cellsentials) and other essential stuff along with taking out at a Jollibee store. On March 30, the city has started the lockdown. Only my dad's name is in the Home Quarantine Pass despite his senior age, so the rest of us cannot go out.
It was suppose to end on April 13, but they have extended it to April 30 to "flatten the curve". Now that they will downgrade it to General Community Quarantine on May 1st (Labor Day in the Philippines), I can finally go out to pay bills, essential goods, etc. However, there's a recent appeal that the city should extend their lockdown, so there's no guarantee yet. The Inter Agency Task Force is having the final say if they will extend the lockdown or downgrade to General Community Quarantine. I haven't had a haircut for 6 weeks lol!
Both my dad (April 13) and sister Aira (April 16) are celebrating their birthdays on the same week after lockdown was extended. We decided to enjoy ourselves while staying at home during the lockdown. My neighbor who was a Patient Under Monitoring last March 15, celebrated his birthday on April 23rd and gave us some of their food to share.
It's been a very long while that I haven't got out of the house. If I can count from March 15 until April 30 (except March 29), it's approximately 6 weeks. It feels strange at first because I usually go out for most of the time before this happens. For 6 weeks in not getting out of our house, I'm starting to get used to it despite that I've missed the outside world. Thanks to my online job, playing games during spare time and unlimited internet, I don't feel bored at home.
Stay safe everyone!
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