POVERTY DUE TO COVID 19

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2)

has spread globally since its first report in Wuhan, China on December 31,
2019. On January 30, the Philippines reported its first two imported cases of
COVID-19 in a couple from Wuhan. One of them died on February 1st,
becoming the first COVID-19 death outside China. After a third confirmed
case from Wuhan was reported, no additional cases were found among the
contacts of these cases and no other cases emerged for the next four weeks.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is defined as an illness caused by a novel coronavirus
called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2; formerly called 2019-
This subsequently spread globally to become the fifth documented pandemic since the 1918 flu
nCoV),
pandemic. It is very contagious and has quickly spread around the world.

COVID-19 most often causes respiratory symptoms that can feel much like a cold, flu, or pneumonia.

COVID-19 may attack more than your lungs and respiratory system. Other parts of your body may also be

affected by the disease.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, more than 1 million people have been infected by the virus and

17,000 people have lost their lives to COVID-19.

From the usual 2,000-3,000 reported cases since October 2020, the country’s daily tally began to surge in

mid-March reaching as many as over 15,000 new cases on 3 April 2021, the highest since the pandemic began.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of non-pharmaceutical interventions colloquially known as

lockdowns (encompassing stay-at-home orders, curfews, quarantines, cordon sanitaires, and similar
societal restrictions) have been implemented in numerous countries and territories around the world.
These restrictions were established to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-

19.[1] By April 2020, about half of the world's population was under some form of lockdown, with

more than 3.9 billion people in more than 90 countries or territories having been asked or

ordered to stay at home by their governments began in March 2020.

Research and case studies have shown that lockdowns are effective at reducing the spread of COVID-
19, therefore flattening the curve. While these actions delayed the spread of COVID-19, they had
serious negative effect for family incomes, jobs, education, food security, and businesses.
The resulting lockdowns due to the virus have created a significant downturn in the job market, thus
exacerbating the impact of COVID-19 on poverty in the Philippines. Preventing transmission of the

COVID-19 disease requires that we consistently exercise proper health and hygiene protocols, both in

our homes and in public spaces. Authorities have also advised that we all steer clear of large

gatherings, avoid using public transportation, follow “community quarantine” measures, and seek

prompt medical attention when there is exposure to the disease. While all these are sound reminders,

there is one glaring problem – the poor will not be able to afford to follow these.

Many jobs have no paid sick leaves. Irregular workers, including those who are paid on a per output,

takay, or pakyaw basis, are particularly vulnerable. Working from home is not an option for all workers,

as in the case of jeepney drivers and service workers. Crowding cannot be avoided in mass transport

systems. In crisis situations, poor women and girls are affected the most because many of them form

part of this workforce, but are still expected to do unpaid care and domestic work, which only tends to

increase when caring for sick members of the family.

Poor people inordinately bear the brunt of economic shocks brought by this pandemic. Many informal,

micro-, small-scale, and even up to medium-scale enterprises will take the hit as compared to the larger

and more established businesses. Many may have to stop operations or close down because they

would not be able to absorb the shocks to the economy. Hoarding of essential goods such as soap,

alcohol, and basic food items only raises market prices and creates access barriers. Stocking up on

food and medicines is impossible for those without regular incomes, savings, the unbanked, or those

without access to financial services.

At the beginning of the pandemic, the Philippines’ unemployment ratehovered around 5%, but it has
now worsened due to lockdown measures. According to the Philippines Statistics Authority,
unemployment rose to 17.6% in April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, it is a figure that
could rise as lockdown measures continue, leading to increased levels of poverty and hunger.

As a result of increased unemployment, poverty has risen, with expectations determining that almost 3
million Filipinos would enter poverty by the end of 2020. The impact of COVID-19 on poverty in the
Philippines is temporary but the right measures and lifting lockdown measures as rates and vaccinations
roll out could alleviate it.. The first six months of last year saw 3.9 million more Filipinos pushed into
poverty, with economic officials laying the blame squarely on pandemic-related lockdown measures, job
losses, cuts in household consumption, and forced business closures.

Poverty in the country grew to 23.7%, against 21.1% in the same six-month period in 2018,

The number of Filipinos in poverty has now risen to over 26 million, just under 25% of the population. In

Manila, as in many other places, the Covid-19 pandemic is hitting the poor the hardest and exposing the

gaping inequities in access to food, shelter, and health care

Even before the pandemic, poverty is one of the most horrific epidemics in our society today. Poverty is the state

of being extremely poor. It is a very serious problem that many people suffer from today.

People are dying every minute because of this terrible disease. No antidotes have been found to eliminate it.
Poverty is like an epidemic with no antidote affecting the entire world. It has already killed billions of people and
will continue killing unless we do something to stop it.

Source: https://ojs.wpro.who.int/ojs/public/journals/1/covid19/wpsar.2020.11.5.005Amit.pdf

https://blogs.worldbank.org/eastasiapacific/how-covid-19-impacted-vulnerable-communities-philippines

https://borgenproject.org/impact-of-covid-19-on-poverty-in-the-philippines/