Quarantine classifications and interventions

(Part of an ongoing account started on March 13, 2020 of how the spread of COVID-19 in our country and our government’s response has affected our lives.)

Everyone in the Philippines is under quarantine, whether it is Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), Modified ECQ, General Community Quarantine (GCQ) or Modified GCQ.

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on the management of Emerging Infectious Diseases took back its announcement on Tuesday that areas deemed as low-risk will no longer be placed under any form of community quarantine starting May 16.

This, after the local government officials of these low-risk areas expressed fears of a surge in COVID-19 cases, should all restrictions be relaxed.

So that’s it. Effective May 16, Metro Manila, the Province of Laguna and Cebu City will be placed under Modified ECQ.

Too soon

(Part of an ongoing account started on March 13, 2020 of how the spread of COVID-19 in our country and our government’s response has affected our lives.)

Aside from developments in Manila, I try to keep abreast with news in Cebu, where I have family.

I notice that as of 4 p.m. of May 5, 2020, Cebu City ranks second among cities with the most number of COVID-infected in the country with 920 cases, second to Quezon City’s 1,435 according to data from the Department of Health. 

I call my sister’s attention to the figures and am surprised when she acknowledges the data but says that Cebu City is scheduled to relax its quarantine status from Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) to General Community Quarantine (GCQ) on May 16.

“Tingali baya ug gadahum ka nga mag GCQ na mo (You might be under an illusion that you’re transitioning to GCQ) by May 16,” I respond.

"Caution Fatigue"

(Part of an ongoing account started on March 13, 2020 of how the spread of COVID-19 in our country and our government’s response has affected our lives.)

We went through a three-day weekend since Friday, May 1, was a holiday.

But these days, it just seems like there’s nothing to define holidays from regular days, weekends from weekdays or day from day, if not for night.

Yes, I am getting depressed.

I know I do not show it. I get up and get all the things that need to get done. These days, meals are the only things that break up the day. We have breakfast before hubby starts working; I interrupt him at noon so we can have lunch; he wraps up the day’s work when I call him for dinner.

It’s the same with daughter. I interrupt whatever she is doing for the day for meals. They welcome the breaks. Otherwise, it would be just one long, uninterrupted flow before night fall.

Big noses

(Part of an ongoing account started on March 13, 2020 of how the spread of COVID-19 in our country and our government’s response has affected our lives.)

I ask hubby what he misses most from life before the Luzon lockdown.

“Ramen,” he says then, “Eating out.”

I raise an eyebrow at him. “I expected Nanay (mother) to be in there somewhere,” I tell him.

He waves a hand dismissively. “She's first, of course! That goes without saying.”

When daughter gets up later, I ask her the same thing over breakfast. “Friends,” she says immediately. She stays up late to go online with friends, sometimes for a Dungeons and Dragons session. It is fun, but not quite the same as when they are all in the same room playing, she says.

Monopoly

(Part of an ongoing account started on March 13, 2020 of how the spread of COVID-19 in our country and our government’s response has affected our lives.)

I could not write yesterday. I was languishing in jail. Monopoly jail, that is.

Despite earlier pronouncements, I gave in to INSISTENT demand and played Monopoly, a classic fast-dealing property trading board game.

It’s my first time playing Monopoly so I just buy everything I can, even the “cheap” ones that hubby snubs. When I land in jail, the rent they pay for landing on my properties keeps me afloat. Haha!!!

I do get out of jail eventually, but the little money I have left is spent paying hubby and daughter rent when I land on THEIR properties. 

My luck takes a turn for the worst when I get chance or community chest cards that just require me to pay taxes or fines so I am actually relieved when I throw the dice and I am sent back to jail.

This is not my idea of fun.  But it is hard not to laugh when my daughter, who plays Monopoly with her friends, is winning much to the dismay of my very competitive husband, who argues every single point and insists on checking every single payment he has to make.

Again, I get out of Monopoly jail, but my luck does not improve. I have to mortgage my properties because I can no longer pay rent every time I land on any of their properties.

Can a game get any more depressing than this? It’s not enough that I am under lockdown; I have to go broke and land in jail for amusement too. I, the cook, who still has to prepare dinner in the real world.

Things are going to get real in a little while (cue evil laughter)…😈

DoH update: As of 4 p.m. of April 26, 2020, the Philippines has reported 7,579 confirmed corona virus cases, including 862 recoveries and 501 deaths.