10 New Normal Ways in Doing Things During COVID 2019

There are at least 10 new normal ways in doing things during this enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) period. Even in areas where general community quarantine (GCQ) will be enforce in due time, life would never be the same again.

mobile sanitation booth

Until now, there were more than 3,300,000 people from about 215 countries and territories had contracted the dreaded covid 2019 virus.

roving market

Senator Manny Pacquiao is pushing for a New Normal Law that will establish social distancing and health and hygiene protocols.

Earlier in March, he also filed the Anti-Spitting Act of 2020, which seeks to ban and penalize spitting, coughing and sneezing in public.

While Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, along with other leaders of the House of Representatives, filed a bill seeking to provide a “whole-of-society” approach to set the “new normal” way of life as the threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) remains even after the lifting of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

10 New Normal Ways in Doing Things

The proposed House Bill 6623 or the “New Normal for the Workplace and Public Spaces Act of 2020” aims to set standards and protocols to be adopted for three years. While not yet effective, people are already practicing these new normal ways.

Physical and social distancing

10.) Physical distancing at home, public spaces and other areas. Types of physical contact done in public include handshakes, beso-beso (cheek-to-cheek), mano (hand blessing), hugging and kissing is reduce to a minimum or none at all. This is replaced with Bowing, elbow to elbow, a quick nodding in the head, putting both hands together, tapping of feet or waiving of hands is now a normal thing to do.

Barangay Bagbag Market- have given access to other barangays like Sauyo, West Fairview, Bagbag, Talipapa and San Bartolome residents.

9.) Bringing of quarantine pass or travel pass is a MUST for all people. Remember that each barangay, town, city or community may impose different set of regulations, scheduling or window hours. Barangay Bagbag Public Market in Novaliches, Quezon City imposed an odd-even scheme for those living in the barangay last April 17, 2020. Other would implement a different scheme in order to reduce foot traffic in their locality.

Wearing of face mask and gloves

8.) Wearing of Face Mask and even gloves in public is a MUST. Different municipality, town, city or community already had ordinances for wearing of face mask. Some establishment require people entering their premises to have mask.

7.) E-Commerce and Shopping Online – The surge for E-Commerce, social media, website and mobile app based which caters to online delivery services and ordering. Roving wet market or roving grocery stores in some areas of the country is also becoming the new normal for shoppers.

travel

6.) Reduced Sitting Capacity for public transportation- Jeepneys, Tricycle, MRT , Pedicabs, PNR, AUV express, Passenger ship, Airplane – Expect that these form of public transportation will have fewer passengers if the enhanced community quarantine had been lifted. This can have an effect in the transportation system and the cost of fare might be carried over to the general masses.

5.) Reduced Sitting Capacity and Take Out- For restaurants and other establishments, Limiting the number of customers is now the new normal. They have to focus more on take-out or delivery services in order to survive.

4.) Hospitals, clinics and even hilot are ramping up their digital consultation platforms to attend to patients, especially for follow-up checkups and non-urgent cases.

3.) Mass gathering is now reduced to none or just a handful – Since physical distancing is in effect, Going to church, seminar, training, travel and watching movie is virtually non-existent. Some church groups already had online masses televised on television, live-streaming in the internet which is now the new normal. Drinking session is reduce to almost non-existent since there is a liquor ban being enforced.

2.) Classes in schools and universities- Several schools and universities have gone online. While not everyone in the country had an reliable access to the internet. Schools and teachers must find creative ways to continue learning process. Study at Home or Homeschooling will be the normal.

1.) Practicing good hygiene, avoid coughing and spitting in public places- People had to practice hand washing several time a day and among other things.

Sources and References:

Congress.gov.ph : http://www.congress.gov.ph/

Senate.gov.ph:  https://www.senate.gov.ph/

Official Gazette: https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/section/laws/

Philippine Information Agency (PIA) , Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) PTV channel 4, World Health Organization, Department of Health, Unicef-Philippines

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