Many businesses have reopened and plenty of workers have reported back to work now that Metro Manila is under general community quarantine (GCQ). However, the COVID-19 threat continues. Here are some practical protections you can use. Check them out in this photo gallery.
The most in-demand COVID-19 protection will still be very much useful during the GCQ. So, it's best to stock up on face masks, whether it be a surgical face mask, an N95 mask, or a cloth mask.
If you're not aware yet, COVID-19 spreads through the droplets emitted by infected people when they sneeze, cough, talk, or even just breathe. And possible entry points of these droplets are through your mouth, nose, and eyes. So, face shields are one of the best protections you can use against COVID-19.
If you don't have a face shield, you can simply use goggles --or even sunglasses or eyeglasees, if those are the only ones you have handy. Wearing sunnies and reading glasses is better than not having any eye protection at all.
For those who work in the medical and food industry - and also those who are constantly in close contact with their clients such as barbers or hair stylist - wearing gloves is a must, in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
It's wise to always bring an alcohol or hand sanitizer with you whenever you leave the house, so you can keep your hands clean even when water and soap is not available.
Business establishments should lessen the physical contact of people with the bottle of alcohol or hand sanitizer, by investing in a no-touch stand or sanitizer dispenser.
For commuters who want to stay protected even when they often come into close contact with other people, there's now a commuter jacket or PPE that has a built-in mask that you can use for extra protection.
To prevent exposing your employees and customers to one another's droplets, you may install an acrylic counter shield such as this one.
There's also an acrylic barrier designed for vehicles, perfect for taxis and TNVS cars.
Shoes can be carriers of the Coronavirus Disease. So, it's best to have a sanitizing foothbath mat in the entrance of your home or business establishment.
When outside, some people tend to forget about social or physical distancing. So, having floor markers on your establishment will be helpful in reinforcing this important COVID-19 precaution.
Or, if you want added protection, you can use a social distancing barrier. It will serve as a marker and a protection against COVID-19 droplets at the same time.
For other important reminders on safety measures during the GCQ, you can also put signs in your establishment.
For the safety of everyone in your establishment, it's best to make sure that no one with COVID-19 symptoms like fever will enter your premises. So, you should have a thermal scanner to check the temperature of everyone who enters your building.
Plexiglass is a bit pricey, so for those looking for an alternative protection against COVID-19, the plastic cover is your next best bet. This has been used in some drugstores, convenient stores, and sari-sari stores, in order to create a protective barrier between the employees or business owners and their customers.
In order to avoid physical contact in handing payment and change between the cashier and customers, businesses can use a change tray or dish, where both can simply leave and/or get bills and coins. Also, it's best to sanitize hands before and after touching money, as they may be also carriers of bacteria and viruses.