Lockdown Update

How is the lockdown where you are?

I live in the #Philippines. There were mercy flights back to Australia, but I chose to stay. I have a home here, friends, employees, pets.

We are in “Enhanced Community Quarantine”. We must stay home unless our job is to provide basic necessities.

A quarantine pass is issued to my house, and one person can leave once per day for basic needs.


There are, for now, abundant delivery services. I can order farm fresh eggs, fresh veg and meat, fish and poultry, fresh water. Thankfully I have wine as alcohol sales are banned.

I can’t get my air con repaired, which is annoying. But it is devastating for the guy who does repairs. He is a day-worker. No work, no pay. And no benefits.

The Philippines was under martial law for 9 years, ending in 1981. Long ago, but still in the national psyche. We have a largely compliant population and the President has a strong and forceful leadership style.

One person has been shot dead for flouting curfew. Another has been arrested for posting fake news on Facebook about Coronavirus in Cebu.

For now, I’m safe and confident of ongoing safety and stability.

But like everywhere, it depends on decisions made about balancing the health of the populace and the right to earn a living.

#coronavirus #pandemic