It's not one or the other. Poverty and extreme poverty in Latin America are being worsened by the lockdown. We wil have more deaths due to malnutrition, lack of access to healthcare, unsanitary conditions etc than the coronavirus itself. You have no idea how bad the economy is here right now. We were already in recession and going through a terrible crisis and this lockdown has made it much worse. People are losing their jobs left and right. Kids are not being fed. People do not have access to essentials. The only people that this lockdown will help is rich people who can afford to safely stay home. My family's business is going under as so many others. Who's going to pay our bills? Who's going to pay our employees' salaries? not the government, that's for sure. At work they already told us our next payment will come in mid May probably. Don't make assumptions just because in Europe some countries can afford the lockdown. Here we can't. We have almost 40% of people living in poverty. It will likely increase in the coming weeks. People are desperate because they cannot afford food.

It is the same in the Philippines, my home country. Poverty incidence here is extremely high. We are on lockdown for 1 month which started March 15 and will end on April 14. During the first few days, people are not following the quarantine measures because they need to work, in order to make money. Most people are on a no-work no-pay policy. While they understand the severity of the virus, they also have to think of their stomach, and those of their families. They believe that hunger will kill them first before the virus.

The local governments were caught unaware by the lockdown, but slowly, they have stepped up. And the call by the government upon private companies and individuals are slowly bearing fruit. The government, NGOs and private entities, working together, have been distibuting to the poor, food packs and basic essential items such as soaps and alcohol. Yes, it was chaos in the first few days, but we are getting there. The Philippines cannot afford a long drawn out battle with covid-19 precisely becasue we are a poor country. We lack test kits, face masks and other PPEs. Our doctors are dying due to Covid19 infection.There are 380 confirmed cases, 25 deaths or a 6.6% mortality. 12% of mortality are doctors, but there are only 0.12% doctors in our population. The 30-day lockdown is just the first step. If you are a poor country, you can't afford COVID, you must follow the lockdown. STAY HOME.

TOGETHER WE WILL BEAT COVID-19!

 

Here in the states banks need to get on board and help more.  They could freeze mortgages and add the time to the end of the mortgage.  This would allow people who are being put out of work due to this to use what little money they have for medicine, food, and essentials until they are back to work.

Sorry to hear that, but I still believe Solidarity is the answer

It's not one or the other. Poverty and extreme poverty in Latin America are being worsened by the lockdown. We wil have more deaths due to malnutrition, lack of access to healthcare, unsanitary conditions etc than the coronavirus itself. You have no idea how bad the economy is here right now. We were already in recession and going through a terrible crisis and this lockdown has made it much worse. People are losing their jobs left and right. Kids are not being fed. People do not have access to essentials. The only people that this lockdown will help is rich people who can afford to safely stay home. My family's business is going under as so many others. Who's going to pay our bills? Who's going to pay our employees' salaries? not the government, that's for sure. At work they already told us our next payment will come in mid May probably. Don't make assumptions just because in Europe some countries can afford the lockdown. Here we can't. We have almost 40% of people living in poverty. It will likely increase in the coming weeks. People are desperate because they cannot afford food.

Solidarity: unity or agreement of feeling or action, especially among individuals with a common interest; mutual support within a group.


I really believe in solidarity between all (the richest and the poorest). I'm not just talking about money. I am not rich. I am doing accounts every month. But if I can give my time, even some money or food or whatever to my neighbor or even to someone I don't know. It may be a phone call to someone who is alone. There are many things we can do and I am not talking about money. That is the answer for the Covid. And that Solidarity has to go between people, between governments, between companies ... Everyone, not only that it is between workers, it has to be between everyone. I respect and understand that my situation in Europe is easier. But we win this disease among all of us. That is what I mean by Solidarity. Of course, if there are people who, before the disease, already need help and it has not been given, it is a problem. But I continue to say that the solution is for the government to assume its responsibility and provide measures so that everyone comes out of the health and economic crisis.

If we don't fight Covid many people will die. There is not cure. The only answer now is to stay at home. Many people cannot be at home without working, we will die without food. So there is just one answer to survive, for everyone: Solidarity.


For example. Yesterday the President in Spain said that we will be 10 days without going to work unless they are essential jobs. Companies will continue to pay wages and workers will have to make up those hours throughout this year, before December 31. That's what I mean by Solidarity: we are all in the same boat, we all have to row.

Other government measures are to install beds and facilities for homeless and healthy people in sports halls and provide them with food, shelter and sanitation. Covid is a problem for everyone. Governments must assume their responsibility and put in place measures that help us all get out.

My opinion. I respect yours.

It's easy to ask that of other people when you and your family get to eat every day and have a home with proper sanitation. People here are going to revolt if the lockdown continues, as they don't have access to food.