DO IT YOURSELF Getting creative against the virus

Amid the coronavirus disease scare, people are buying alcohol, face-masks and disinfectants all too many all too fast. So what is left for those in the back of the queue?

There is still something when one gets creative, hints Provincial Health Office (PHO) health education promotion officer II Vincent Apayor at the studio Kapihan sa PIA over station DyTR.

While the P500 milliliter 70% isopropyl alcohol or the 70% ethyl alcohol costs about P70-80, and will not be easily available, hand disinfection by old school soap and water costs not even half.

There is however a trade-off for the cheap trusted soap and water hand wash.

Over the usual haphazard slap of alcohol and alcohol based sanitizers, soap and water needs that 20 seconds of rubbing and scrubbing.

“It’s simple though, wet your hands with water, put in soap, rub the palms, rub the back of the palms, nails, under the nails, rub by interlacing the fingers, and then, with a dry towel or paper tissue, wipe off the water, all in 20 seconds, or if you’re in for a party, sing Happy Birthday,” Apayor advises.

Face masks, ahh, that yet another choking issue.

The Department of Health and even the World Health Organization (WHO) talks about three kinds of equally useful masks against the potential inhaling of the virus that could take the mist into one’s respiratory tract. 

The N-95, for medical and health personnel taking care of people with a disease, the surgical masks for the ordinary individual who is getting the protection from inhaling the virus or the sick one making sure he does not infect the well and the equally sufficient cloth mask.

While there is a brewing debate on which side of the surgical mask would be placed outside, the bigger issue is, there is hardly any mask left for the poor to people to buy and similarly get protected.

A disposable surgical mask costs about P12-20 apiece, a particulate respirator (N-95) mask ranges from P30 to P60, and a cloth mask can be had at a price of between P20-P300 depending on the brands, how will the poor people get protected?

A handkerchief and four rubber bands can do, and it’s a doesn’t cost a fraction.

Simply fold a handkerchief half and then fold it yet again to make a long strip. Slip two rubber bands up the third of the entire length of the cloth and another two rubber bands on the last third. With the rubber bands on the one third and two thirds of the cloth, fold the ends of the cloth inwards to overlap. Insert the overlaps into each other to form a bond. Now, put this on, or if you need more filters, add a layer of alcohol patch. But this should be a good mask.

And when the dreaded corona virus can survive and remain in the surfaces for a long time, disinfection should be regularly done.

When commercial disinfectants costs about P200-P500 a liter, PHO suggests an ingenious solution.

Use two table spoons of chlorine powder and granules, which is about P20 into two liters of water and viola, you have a disinfectant that you can use to saturate a doormat so that anyone coming in would have an ample foot bath.

The same solution also works well in disinfecting tables, chairs, doors and panels, window panes, refrigerator doors, doorknobs and places where family members usually touch. (rahchiu/PIA-7/Bohol)

GET CREATIVE. Health educator Vincent Apayor of the Provincial Health Office shared at Kapihan sa PIA ingenious solutions the financially challenged can get to be equally protected against the virus. (rahchiu/PIA-7/Bohol)

CHIC KERCHIEF. A handkerchief and two garter or rubber bands easily transform into a creative face mask when one is needing for protection and there is none available. (PIABohol/google.com)

Bohol extends 5-day travel ban to April 12

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, March 20, (PIA)—Until the next 23 more days, or until way past the Holy Week, Bohol is not accepting anyone coming in, be they returning Boholanos or tourist visitors.

This as Governor Arthur Yap signed Executive Order No 14, which extended the suspension of domestic and international air and sea travel of passengers bound for Bohol.

The move, according to the order which the governor signed March 18, is a measure to combat the threat of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Bohol.

Last March 13, the governor signed Executive Order No. 08, which ordered the suspension of domestic and international air and sea travel of passengers bound for Bohol starting 12:01 AM of Monday, March 16, and this travel ban remains in effect until 11:59 of Friday March 20, 2020.

The five-day suspension allows for the preparation and institution of measures to address the ongoing threat of COVID-19 in the province, Gov Yap said in the order.

However, after the five-day period, the Technical Working Group on New Emerging Infectious Disease in Bohol (Bohol COVID-19 Task Force) recommended for the extension of the suspension of domestic and international air and sea travel of passengers bound for Bohol.

The recommendation, the EO states is based on the apparent lack of community awareness on self-quarantine protocols despite widened information dissemination, and the lack of barangay and municipal isolation units, where barangays must be able to put up enough isolation units equivalent to 5 percent of its population.

While some barangays may not have the capacity and the financial capability to put up the same, school buildings, which have been temporarily vacated due to suspended classes, can be used as alternative isolation centers, but it has to be coordinated and approved by the education department yet.  

The TWG said transport protocols need to be in place, and that the Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams also need to undergo more orientation and training on new COVID-19 protocols.

Moreover, the TWG sees that the mandated Central Isolation Center (CIC) is not in place yet here.

Corollary to the need for a CIC is the other infrastructure and manpower complement needed for it to operate, the need for personal protective equipment and other supplies that that still sangged in the procurement processes, the operational guidelines still in the process of crafting and the test kits and swabs are still very limited.

As regards the implementation of self-quarantine, the TWG noted a substantial number of returning residents classified as patients under monitoring have not complied with the 14-day home or self-quarantine.

The TWG also in its recommendations see violations in the travel ban that they noted the need to further strengthen coastal security.

While violations in social distancing in public areas is still prevalent, the TWG also said the lack of compliance on the Department of Transportation protocols by transport operators has pushed for reasons to recommend the 25-day extension in the travel ban.

Finally, the extension, according to the TWG, will give Bohol ample time to assess the exponential growth of COVID cases outside Bohol.

SECURING BOUNDARIES. Members of the Philippine Coast Guard question a group of fishermen for being out at sea when the curfew was implemented. They were made to present proper documents to identify themselves. PCG had express instructions not to allow small boats especially from Cebu to cross to Bohol. (PIABohol/PCG Bohol)

ANTI-COVID CORELLA. Elements of the Corella Police Station prepare for a curfew implementaion with a station produced and manufactured face mask whcih their women police officers sewed, as the curfew in Bohol gets extended until April 12. (PIABohol/Corella PS)

DOLE proposes flexible work scheds, amidst COVID scare

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, March 20, (PIA)—The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has proposed flexible work arrangements (FWA) for workers as a temporary measure to allow companies to scour on a bit of savings and reduce workers in a station.

Such would be to properly implement the mandated social distancing and stop the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), as well as save the company from huge losses now that the viral pandemic has altered the way people are economically behaving.    

Moreover, with COVID-19 impacting largely on industries and plunging sales, crashing businesses, the DOLE sees the adoption of FWAs as a better alternative than outright termination of services of the workers or the even harsher closure of establishments.

Through Labor Advisory No. 09, series of 2020, DOLE recognizes the practicality of FWA that employers and employees can consider taking also into account the adverse consequences of the situation on the financial viability of the company.

FWA refer to alternative work schedules other than the traditional work-hours, workdays or work weeks.

Among DOLE’s proposed FWAs are: reduction of work-hours or workdays, alternately rotating workers or alternately providing work for workers within the work week and forced leave where employees are required to go on leave for days or weeks using their leave credits, if there are any.

From here, DOLE encourages employers and employees to explore alternative work schedules to cushion and mitigate the loss of employees’ income.

As soon as both agree on the adopted FWA, the administration of such would be both their responsibility, according to DOLE.

In related development, the DOLE has issued Department Order No. 209 which lays the guidelines for a financial assistance as a means of support to COVID-affected workers in the formal sector.

The program, called COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) is a government safety net program that offers financial assistance support to affected workers in private establishments that have adopted FWAs or by temporary closure of their company’s operations due to the COVID pandemic. (rahchiu/PIA-7/Bohol)

AWAKE WHEN EVERYONE'S ASLEEP. Emergency responders of Bohol TaRSIER 117 are excempted from the FWAs them, being on the emergency medical and rescue services. (rahchiu/PIA-7/Bohol)

DENR Bohol stops eco-tourism activities in 16 protected areas

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, March 19, (PIA)—The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is temporarily closing Bohol’s peak attraction: the Chocolate Hills and 16 other forest and protected areas in Bohol in a desperate bid to deny the dreaded corona virus disease the chance to infect other people who may be near a sick person on tour.

This as the DENR has also temporarily closed all eco-tourism activities within the protected areas in the province, in another attempt to deny the entry and contain the spread of the dreaded coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). 

The temporary closure takes effect March 18 and lasts until March 31, according to a notice to the public issued by Bohol Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Charlie Fabre.

Expressly included in the temporary closure order are all eco-tourism activities within the Rajah Sikatuna Protected Landscape, Chocolate Hills Natural Monuments, Loboc Watershed Forest Reserve, Alejawan-Cansulay-Anibongan River Watershed and Forest Reserve.

Alburquerque-Loay-Loboc Protected Landscape and Seascapes, Panglao Island Protected Seascape, Cabilao and Sandingan Island Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve, Pangangan Island Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve, Tubigon group of islets and Wilderness Areas, Clarin group of islates and Wilderness Areas.

Inabanga-Buenavista Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve and Wilderness Areas, Getafe mangro Swamp ForestReserve and Wilderness Area, Ubay Mangrove Forest Reserve, Talibon group of Islands Protected Landscape.

Candijay-Anda-Mabini Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve and Wilderness Area and President Carlos P. Garcia Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve and Wilderness Area. 

The temporary closure, according to PENRO Fabre is in compliance with the Presidential proclamation 922 which president Rodrigo Roa Duterte issued declaring a state of national health emergency all over the country.

The outbreak of the corona virus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) constitutes an emergency that threatens national security as the Department of Health admitted the first local transmission of the virus which originated in the Wuhan Province of mainland China.

Said to be easily transmittable through pneumonia droplets which can be expelled through coughing or sneezing of an person infected with the virus, the novel virus has world’s best scientists scrambling to find its vaccine, and has not been generally successful as of now.

With the mode of transmission identified, government health authorities have pushed on proper handwashing by soap and water of alcohol based sanitizer is unavailable.

The government has also put up bans on mass gatherings, suspended classes and adopted flexible work arrangements to limit the number of people in one place as a certain time with its social distancing policy.

The temporary closure of these eco-tourism activities also coincide with the continuing spread of the virus that has since affected 172 of the world’s countries. (rahchiu/PIA-7/Bohol)

SOCIALLY DISTANT. With social distancing now implemented to deprive the virus the chance to infect more people, DENR has temporarily closed the Chocolate Hills park, Bohol’s leading tourism destination as tourism stakeholders now see the solution to the  pandemic a distant dream. (rahchiu/PIA-7/Bohol)

Bohol implements 9 AM-5 AM curfew

TAGBILARAN CITY, March 19, (PIA)—In a bid to break the life cycle of the virus causing the dreaded corona disease, Governor Arthur Yap has ordered a province-wide curfew, which is intended to deprive the virus of a human host by limiting or avoiding exposure and contact between persons.

Through Executive Order No.13, which the governor issued March 17, 2020, Boholanos and establishments all over the province are placed under curfew from 9:00 PM to 5 AM.

The order however exempts pharmacies and drugstores, employees and workers of telecommunications, electricity and water utilities doing maintenance and emergency repair work.

Also exempted from the curfew are medical personnel and other similarly tasked responders who are on duty at the time of curfew, the travel of uniformed personnel on official business especially those transporting medical supplies, laboratory specimen related to the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19), other humanitarian assistance and for those responding to life threatening emergency situations.

The governor’s order said no person shall be allowed in the streets, commercial establishments, recreation centers, malls and any other areas outside the immediate vicinity of their residence during the duration of the curfew.

By doing this, the governor hopes to further strengthen and enhance the strict home quarantine as observed in all households, encourage work-from-home arrangements, restrict sea, air and land travel and impose existing international travel restrictions.

It may be recalled that through Executive Order Number 8 issued March 14, the governor has placed an entry travel ban to Bohol from March 15 to March 20 which puts the whole of Bohol in a community quarantine in a way to address the spreading threat of COVID-19 in the island province.    

Other executive orders, numbered 9 and 10 suspended classes in all levels of public and private institutions, cockfighting and all forms of events where people congregate as well as putting a mandatory self-quarantine to returning Boholanos from March 12-15, as Bohol has yet successfully insulated itself from the dreaded virus.

  

With school classes suspended and some workers opting to adopt flexible working arrangements, the governor noted several children and adults still loitering and gathering at public parks, internet cafes and similar establishments where people can congregate, these even extending until the wee hours of day.

As these practices heighten the exposition and human contact which helps the virus continue its life cycle and spread to other communities, the curfew is the government’s solution.

In the order, the governor argues that while the virus is transmitted through respiratory droplets carried when an infected person coughs and sneezes, depriving the virus of a human host for the disease-causing-pathogen to survive and multiply.

Without human host to allow the virus to live, it will die, that the governor sees the need to break the cycle of infection by depriving the virus of a host.

With the order, the government also empowers punong barangays and members of the barangay council as well as barangay peace keeping officers to implement the provisions of the executive order.

The same mandates the police to provide support whenever this is needed to enforce the order. (rahchiu/PIA-7/Bohol)

City bans minors in malls, businesses close at 8 PM

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, March 19, (PIA)—With the 9 PM to 5 AM curfew imposed all over Bohol, malls and commercial establishments, including balut vendors in Tagbilaran City are now directed to limit their daily operations up to 8:00 PM only.

And not only that, through Tagbilaran City Executive Order No 11, series of 2020 declaring a state of general community quarantine in the City of Tagbilaran and providing guidelines for its implementation says, anyone below 18 years old is prohibited from entering malls unless for emergency cases.

The business operations closure order however does not include the operation of pharmacies, medical centers and other health care establishments.

It also enjoins owners and operators of internet cafes, karaoke TV bars, movie houses and other places of leisure and entertainment to close their operations on March 19 until April 12, 202.

City Mayor John Geesnell Yap, through this EO, dated March 17, also mandated private establishments here to have mobile temperature scanning devices at all their entry points in their premises and should have liquid soap or hand sanitizers and 70 percent alcohol in the restrooms and common areas.

The move is on the pretext that the spread of the dreaded corona virus disease can be stopped by hand washing and depriving the virus of a host that social distancing can ably do.

If in the temperature scanning areas, an individual whose body heat exceeds 37.5 degrees centigrade, the person would be denied entry and advised to seek immediate medical care, and directed to the nearest health care provider.

Through the order, the city has also asked organizers of mass gatherings including cockfights, concerts, fiesta celebrations be they public or private to either cancel or postpone in an assertion of the health doctrine of social distancing.

As Bohol governor Arthur Yap issues Executive Order No. 13 to impose a province-wide curfew, Tagbilaran City moves and enhances the curfew with its provision of health checkpoints in all entry points to the city.

If at these checkpoints, health personnel manning the checkpoint find out that an individual has a body temperature exceeding 37.5, the individual is placed in a holding area and another round of temperature check is done after another few minutes.

If the same high temperature remains, the individual is sent to a qualified health care personnel or referred to the city’s Barangay Health Emergency Response Team (BHERT), or if non-resident, the checkpoint personnel will contact the municipal Health Emergency Team to pick the individual for possible self-quarantine.  

Over this, Tagbilaran City residents are strongly advised to stay in their homes, go out only to report to work, buy food, medicines and needed supplies or go for treatment.

No one should be in the malls, community centers, commercial areas and public areas just to hang out or loiter, the executive order states.

Government work, however is not disrupted, and the city has opted to implement alternative working arrangements. (rahchiu/PIA-7/Bohol)

NASAL SPRAY. Doctors here in Tagbilaran teach people how to make nasal sprays while a benevolent group gave nasal sprays to those whi allergic rhinitis as the city bids to end the problem of civid 19 quick. (PIABohol/foto by May Hope Arcenal)

MILITARY MEDICAL SOLUTION. While a curfew has been held over Bohol, Tagbilaran City puts in a twist with a medical team imbedded in the checkpoints, they are tasked to get temperature readings and deny entry to the city people who are potential virus carriers. (rahchiu/PIA-7/Bohol file photo)