Some Answers You May Not Like.
Living in the ECQ in the Philipines, May 6, 2020
What the heck is an ECQ? Enhanced Community Quarantine is the official name. Many of us just call it the “Lockdown”.
Many will notice I haven’t been posting much here on PhilFAQS. I haven’t had to say after more than a month of literal lockdown. (Those under 21 or over 60 are not allowed to leave the house), and only one 21 though 60 yo may leave at a time. We have a paper “hall pass” thingy (much like the hall passes you might have had in high school), and there are plenty of checkpoints, plus security guards at banks and supermarkets and drug stores who can and do check. The pass is only good on alternate days … our house gets Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, other neighbors have Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and no one is allowed out after 5 pm.
No going out on Sundays for anyone. But I’m not complaining. I am 75, with a breathing disorder and was scared as Hell over this virus that it was going to “get me”. It still might, but things are a lot more hopeful now.
I Believe I Am Much Better Off in the Philippines
A great many expats felt they had to leave the Philippines when it became apparent this virus was a very serious thing.
I have watched carefully the pretty much lackadaisical approach to any sort of quarantine in the USA.
- The armed terrorists storming state capitals and spitting in people’s faces.
- the president who won’t even wear a mask and
- the continual political sniping in the face of more than 6o,00 deaths
So I made the decision that I would be a lot safer just staying here in a country where there is the rule of law and people take precautions seriously.
But if I did decide to leave, would I be allowed to?