Since Monday, traffic was heavy going towards the downtown area if one is coming from the south of the city. It was, after all, the first working day under the general community quarantine and the rush of private vehicles were to be expected as some offices started to open their shops. There were a few public utility vehicles plying the route, most of them with less than five passengers braving the ride.
Under GCQ, businesses that are allowed to open need to follow strict hygiene protocols within their premises. Over the weekend, many offices were disinfecting workspaces and arranging their interiors for the lean workforce and for customers who will be transacting business.
As we slowly reclaim our lives pre-COVID, we should not lower our guards. On the contrary, more stringent measures must be in order because transmission has not, in any way at all, flattened. As of Monday, there were 15 more positive cases reported by the Department of Health in the city, all of them coming from Brgy. 23-C, identified as having the most high risk barangays in the city.
We assume that if massive COVID-19 testing will be done in high-risk barangays, the figures will be higher. With the partial opening of malls and businesses, and as the movement of people becomes freer, we should all be so mindful of how we keep ourselves and family safe from the vicious pandemic. Invisible to the naked eye, we never know when or where we will succumb to the virus if we relax our guard.
We reiterate to always practice hand washing with soap and water, use of face masks and social distancing or avoiding crowded places. We should always be up to date on correct information regarding the pandemic. Having the right knowledge and not falling prey to the disinformation circulating on social media, will keep us in the right perspective in these uncertain times.
