Good grief another lock down coming?

HI all

I have posted my views in several places across the internet.
I am  not pro nor anti restriction. What I do believe is that there needs to be a balance that takes many factors into account, e.g. protecting lives, preventing overload of the health service, maintaining a viable economy, protecting individual livelihoods and just keeping life worth living. Restrictions are only good so long as they bring overall benefit (or least damage). Restrictions are no good if they reduce the fatality rate but cause more deaths through starving people by making food scarce or unaffordable. The balance of measures will vary depending on the local circumstances. The Politicians have a tough job to get things right with the information that they receive from all stakeholders. (I never thought I would defend politicians.)

Regardless of what others have said, I am led to understand that we do not fully understand all of the ways that the virus can be transmitted. While many viruses do not survive well in dry environments, it might be possible to pass on the virus by physical contact, e.g. sweaty hand to door knob to sweaty hand. I'll leave it to the experts to figure that one out. Some of the early accounts claimed that the initial transition was from infected animals.

We will not know how effective the vaccinations are until some time has passed and there are large statistical studies. Likewise, because the vaccines have been rushed into release and not followed the normal time consuming trials and tests, we do not know if there are any damaging side affects. Hopefully all will be well as vaccines, at the moment seem to be the only solution on offer.

I must say that some of the posters here are looking at the restrictions from a very self centred point of view; to protect themselves. I am led to believe that people can become infected and show no symptoms for several weeks or even at all. while infected they are capable of spreading the virus further. The restrictions are in place to protect the wider public not only individuals.

While full lockdown might be an extreme, damaging, restriction that impinges heavily on civil liberties. less rigorous measures, such as wearing of masks and social distancing are just inconveniences that we ought to be able to tolerate to the benefit of everybody. People that refuse to follow the lighter restrictions are, in my view, just being selfish.

I for one, intend to get on with my life as best as I can under the circumstances. Where necessary and for the respect of others I will choose to wear my mask and observe social distancing. Unfortunately, the restrictions prevent me from travelling, which is necessary for my income. I've not been able to travel for my work for nearly a year. I'm not ready to join the free rice queues just yet but the time will come unless things change.

Today's rant over

Steve

pnwcyclist wrote:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/its-a-desperate-time-crush-of-covid-19-patients-strains-u-s-hospitals-11609721551?mod=searchresults_pos1&page=1

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2 … es-oxygen/https://apnews.com/article/arizona-coro … f64735db22

Your argument that one is FOR or AGAINST lockdowns is a false choice. There are many stages of restrictions to prevent the virus spread and as I have stated before, lockdowns should be a last resort to prevent total overload of the hospitals and health care workers who are braving their lives to save many fools who did not choose to protect themselves.

I am mainly for following protocols such as mask wearing and social distancing but many here do not agree, as packed holiday events and airports will show. Hence we have a worsening situation after the holidays. I live in Arizona where we are currently at 93% ICU capacity. Southern Calif is worse, Vegas is bad. I am sure some areas do not have a problem yet, but across the country most metro areas do.

A false choice?  If you mean the wrong choice, that is no doubt true for many. though it is still a choice. Right or wrong,  I would not like to see that freedom removed. 

I agree that lockdowns should be the last resort as they have proven to be extremely destructive.  We also follow protocols like wearing masks, and shields, washing our hands, etc. , We are also in agreement when it comes to condemning those who prefer not to at the least, wear a mask and avoid unnecessary contact such as in the case or rioters and protesters.  That could have and should have been taken care of by our elected officials and in not doing so they made a false choice and endangered the lives of many for purely political reasons.  The potential for an exponential spread of the virus was only encouraged by their inaction and tacit support of the lowlifes who participated in the riots and so called protests. They are most definitely the fool elite.

We have friends, family and acquaintances who work in environments that provide the rest of us  with the goods and services needed simply to stay alive.  They travel to and from their place of employment from many different areas and come into contact with large groups of people in doing so. They then take that contact back to the area in which they live and come into contact with their family, friends and acquaintances in the area in which they live. 
You cannot lock down everyone and contact will be made with others.  A lockdown of everyone and everything will create a wasteland of human suffering that will rival the virus. 

I do not support not following basic protocols like the wearing of mask, shields, and washing your hands often. That is just common sense.  Those who refuse to follow should most definitely be locked down.

I do support being able go about our lives while following those basic protocols and I applaud those who are out their working in the factories, the fields and the retail outlets that supply us with our basic necessities. 

There is a point where you must choose between acceptable loss (with or without lockdowns) or the  complete destruction of the worlds economies.  Not much of a choice when either way death is the result.

Although I did not like the idea of a possible lockdown in the Philippines, it may be a necessary evil for the country to reduce the spread of the virus and consequently avoid overloading the hospitals and the emergency medical services. Because if that happens, the situation can go out of control and more people will get the virus.

Well these mandatory health safety protocols in our place (a 3rd class province) are seen more of a 'hinderance' to many a stubborn neighbour who fail to understand the seriousness of this outbreak & its consequences....Its more like "catch me if you can" / yup they do have the masks/faceshield when going out to the city (many wif dress up porous face masks) only to take it off & mingle/dance/gather to play basketball/sit/shout/drink/sing on our public roads (as if the roads belong to them..maybe they do  ) and nothing is being done in the strict enforcement of these protocols on our streets/homes of our barangay.
IMO it is a very difficult task for the local government to enforce anything & understand that total lockdowns of barangays are the only way forward to keep things under control...which makes things very difficult for people like me who are trying to get back home wif a return flight option. 

That is average death rate, and low, the Philippines has about 500,000 deaths every year , so this year there were about 9,000 deaths for Covn19 very low ,and I doubt most of those death were actually Covn19, but on the flip side because of the lockdown the normal deaths by drowning about 6000 were way down also the 5000 deaths from accidentally falling down not bad, there were 75,000 deaths from flu and pneumonia, the death rate has not changed that much from Covn19

I know that Metro Manila is currently under GCQ (general community quarantine). And it's been like that since September. But did we get downgraded to either MECQ or ECQ between the start date of this thread and the first week of January 2021?

Before Dec 15, Caloocan and San Jose del Monte Bulacan mayors (and perhaps other mayors) had given advance notices to prepare for a possible lockdown from Dec 23 onwards depending on the situation and  if people don't follow Covid protocols and decide to gather in large groups. Did a lockdown happen?

Was your area placed under ECQ during the holiday season 2020? Ours wasn't.

The Mayor announced that Davao city has procured the vaccine it will arrive 3 quarter 2021

It has been Free & Easy here in Surigao. Just need to wear your mask + slap on a faceshield only when entering public buildings/malls...we can go anywhere within the city limits ...even for an occasional beach swim if required.

All news coming out these days warn of the requirement for further lockdowns (including that fm England)...It does not appear to be ending any time soon with many more countries being forced to follow suit.  https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/artic … f=FaOy0k4N

manwonder wrote:

It has been Free & Easy here in Surigao. Just need to wear your mask + slap on a faceshield only when entering public buildings/malls...we can go anywhere within the city limits ...even for an occasional beach swim if required.

So do you need to wear your mask while swimming?

mugtech wrote:

manwonder wrote:

It has been Free & Easy here in Surigao. Just need to wear your mask + slap on a faceshield only when entering public buildings/malls...we can go anywhere within the city limits ...even for an occasional beach swim if required.

So do you need to wear your mask while swimming?

Hehe...not as yet..but I do have a full face snorkel to see me through.

manwonder wrote:

mugtech wrote:

manwonder wrote:

It has been Free & Easy here in Surigao. Just need to wear your mask + slap on a faceshield only when entering public buildings/malls...we can go anywhere within the city limits ...even for an occasional beach swim if required.

So do you need to wear your mask while swimming?

Hehe...not as yet..but I do have a full face snorkel to see me through.

.
That's sounds like a very restrictive lockdown.
😂🏊🏄

The fatality rate is artificially inflated for reasons beyond the scope of Expat's intent I'm sure. I'm convinced that we are in a spiritual war with fear being weaponized. This is a very controversial topic and beyond bringing the idea to the fore, I say no more.

Tony Smith wrote:

The fatality rate is artificially inflated for reasons beyond the scope of Expat's intent I'm sure. I'm convinced that we are in a spiritual war with fear being weaponized. This is a very controversial topic and beyond bringing the idea to the fore, I say no more.

Just wanted to let you know you're not alone with these thoughts

Only my opinion..best to hunker down & await for the "actual stuff" to be revealed in due course.
I'm sure something 'big time' (not sure what) is cooking.

what I tell you people in September an you dont want to listen?

none of you see writing on the wall an living in deep denial

Tony Smith wrote:

The fatality rate is artificially inflated for reasons beyond the scope of Expat's intent I'm sure. I'm convinced that we are in a spiritual war with fear being weaponized. This is a very controversial topic and beyond bringing the idea to the fore, I say no more.

Yes, fatality rate is inflated, die from an infected toenail, get out the rubber stamp and call it covid.

On the other hand, some places are not able to report covid deaths and are not entered in the tally.

How many dead peoples families need that SS check each month, so dad is not dead and celebrated his 112th birthday.

just my 2 cents, here nothing has changed since jan 2020 really, everyone in brngy is as usual when walking highway or going to town people hang a mask off one ear in case they are approached i guess. but as for filipinos and normal life its like it always was. for expats its different if you need to travel to town or to another island such as going immigration office etc, you need papers and papers from brngy and municipality and medical etc etc..
i have contacted BI and was told in jan or feb they would be open to walk in traffic, mask required and do business, no fines or penalties due to late re-up of visas for past year as long as you get it fixed within 30 days of them reopening normal business.
as for covid cases, i hear rumors about one here and there but not sure since everything said here is a lie or exaggeration , whichever gets most tis mis going...as it has always been, no change there.

Soonretired wrote:

just my 2 cents, here nothing has changed since jan 2020 really, everyone in brngy is as usual when walking highway or going to town people hang a mask off one ear in case they are approached i guess. but as for filipinos and normal life its like it always was. for expats its different if you need to travel to town or to another island such as going immigration office etc, you need papers and papers from brngy and municipality and medical etc etc..
i have contacted BI and was told in jan or feb they would be open to walk in traffic, mask required and do business, no fines or penalties due to late re-up of visas for past year as long as you get it fixed within 30 days of them reopening normal business.
as for covid cases, i hear rumors about one here and there but not sure since everything said here is a lie or exaggeration , whichever gets most tis mis going...as it has always been, no change there.

Not quite true at least where I reside....I drive to the city at least 2-3 times a week & never had any issue getting into malls/markets/shops as long as you carry your QR health pass & wear a mask, some of the bigger malls insist you slap on a face shield which I also carry.
Infact just yesterday my neighbour (another expat >65 yrs old) & I drove all the way fm surigao to sison & back with our partners to attend an engagement party and never did encounter any road block/pass checks along the highway I used.

every place is different.

OFF TOPIC POSTS will be removed, per forum guidelines.

Hello everyone,

Please note that some off-topic posts have been removed from the thread.

Have a nice day.

Cheers,

Cheryl
Expat.com team

manwonder wrote:

Soonretired wrote:

just my 2 cents, here nothing has changed since jan 2020 really, everyone in brngy is as usual when walking highway or going to town people hang a mask off one ear in case they are approached i guess. but as for filipinos and normal life its like it always was. for expats its different if you need to travel to town or to another island such as going immigration office etc, you need papers and papers from brngy and municipality and medical etc etc..
i have contacted BI and was told in jan or feb they would be open to walk in traffic, mask required and do business, no fines or penalties due to late re-up of visas for past year as long as you get it fixed within 30 days of them reopening normal business.
as for covid cases, i hear rumors about one here and there but not sure since everything said here is a lie or exaggeration , whichever gets most tis mis going...as it has always been, no change there.

Not quite true at least where I reside....I drive to the city at least 2-3 times a week & never had any issue getting into malls/markets/shops as long as you carry your QR health pass & wear a mask, some of the bigger malls insist you slap on a face shield which I also carry.
Infact just yesterday my neighbour (another expat >65 yrs old) & I drove all the way fm surigao to sison & back with our partners to attend an engagement party and never did encounter any road block/pass checks along the highway I used.

just to show the difference nobody here has a clue what a QR health pass is...

Soonretired wrote:

manwonder wrote:

Soonretired wrote:

just my 2 cents, here nothing has changed since jan 2020 really, everyone in brngy is as usual when walking highway or going to town people hang a mask off one ear in case they are approached i guess. but as for filipinos and normal life its like it always was. for expats its different if you need to travel to town or to another island such as going immigration office etc, you need papers and papers from brngy and municipality and medical etc etc..
i have contacted BI and was told in jan or feb they would be open to walk in traffic, mask required and do business, no fines or penalties due to late re-up of visas for past year as long as you get it fixed within 30 days of them reopening normal business.
as for covid cases, i hear rumors about one here and there but not sure since everything said here is a lie or exaggeration , whichever gets most tis mis going...as it has always been, no change there.

Not quite true at least where I reside....I drive to the city at least 2-3 times a week & never had any issue getting into malls/markets/shops as long as you carry your QR health pass & wear a mask, some of the bigger malls insist you slap on a face shield which I also carry.
Infact just yesterday my neighbour (another expat >65 yrs old) & I drove all the way fm surigao to sison & back with our partners to attend an engagement party and never did encounter any road block/pass checks along the highway I used.

just to show the difference nobody here has a clue what a QR health pass is...

Sorry buddy just refer to "the link below"...i just typed in all my info & then generated/printed what they call the :
(QR Coded e-Health Pass) been using this since Oct'2020. (Its still being used here in Surigao City)

https://covid19.ssct.edu.ph/healthform

Hello everyone,

Please note that we had to remove some off-topic posts from this thread once more.

Thanks,

Diksha

Diksha wrote:

Hello everyone,

Please note that we had to remove some off-topic posts from this thread once more.

Thanks,

Diksha

That makes sense, remove OT after everyone already has read them.

Enzyte Bob wrote:

Good grief another lock down coming?

It seems in the last nine months, excluding the vaccine, the scientist, politicians, doctors all have been pissing up a rope on how to handle Covid. Their intentions were good, politically correct, but wrong.

Put all their wisdom & ideas in one hand and a pile of dung in the other had, clap your hands and see what you get.

For my point of view  2020 has been a wipe out for the world, In 2022 I hope not to repeat this post, but looking at the last nine months and forward to the next nine months, it seems a good possibility I could.

With the small incidence of death, let life go on, vaccinate all who want to be vaccinated. Everyone should make their own personal decisions on how they want to live their life.

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To quote myself, it's back in our Barangay. Nobody over 65 is allowed out. Curfew for others 10 pm to 4 am.

Our housekeeper is leaving for a months vacation in the provinces on the 18th. It's a 8 to 9 hour trip by bus. The bus company says all is well.

I find that hard to believe, I can't leave the house but others can travel. Covid is here for one year now, and it's the same o same o.

In the year 2121 will they still be wearing masks and shields?

Recently some municipalies added quarataine when coming from Puerto Princesa. I haven't seen any official post saying but my business partner told it's CANCELED because election is coming!     so people can get home to vote.