Lockdown
(Photo : Reuters)

Millions of people around the world are now experiencing a total lockdown in an attempt to reduce and mitigate the spread of coronavirus pandemic. 

The implementation of lockdowns around the world depends on how severe is the effect of the virus. They based it on the number of cases who are confirmed positive for the virus, persons who are still observed, and the number of the death toll.

In the past 24 hours, many countries have already declared nationwide lockdown following the declaration of Italy and Spain which were totally devastated and hit so fast by the virus.

However, many are still confused about the declaration of "lockdowns" around the world. The word may seem easy to understand but the policies and fines that are embedded in the word are still not clear for everyone. 

Different government is taking different approaches on how to implement lockdown. There are many questions about it like if one country shuts down a school, can parents send their children to another school in other countries? And why some other countries are just advising non-essential travels while other countries are totally banning it either international or domestic flights.

In a recently published article, Spain and Italy have implemented a total lockdown. Their government has ordered its people to stay at home and are only allowed to go out for some essential matters like buying medicine, visiting a doctor, buying groceries but as much as possible food should be ordered online.

Restaurants were also shut down and are only allowed to open to deliver food but are not allowed dine-in customers. They also imposed fines for those who will not follow the said restrictions.

Spain and Italy are very stringent in implementing lockdowns but some countries are not as strict as the two countries. An example of this is in the United Kingdom, where people were advised to stop all non-essential contact and avoid all unnecessary travels.

The announcement of the Prime Minister in the United Kingdom was criticized because it seems that the government is just too relax amidst the impacts and effects of coronavirus pandemic. In fact, a new study from experts at Imperial College in London found out that the lax restrictions in implementing lockdown could have devastating effects in the country.

For United Kingdom's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, even though it is already expected that being lax in implementing lockdown could have devastating effects in the country, still he will not shut down schools, not enforce new guidelines with corresponding fines, or even legal threats. He believed that the UK is "a mature and grown-up democracy where people understand the advice being given to them." 

The statement of the Prime Minister was immediately questioned and criticized because there were British tourists in Spain in a recorded who ignored police orders to stay in their hotels. Instead, they roam around as if nothing is happening.

France has its own way also in cracking down the spread of the virus. The government has deployed 100,000 police officers to strictly implement the total lockdown in the country. The French government warned its citizens that if they plan to leave their homes, they have to justify it. French Interior Minister Christopher Castaner said: "To do this, each person, for each movement, will need to take a document, stating on their honor, the reason for their movement."

The French government also advised its citizens to provide some proof like professional cards and certificates from their employers.

However, the implementation of lockdown in the United States is quite confusing. Even though the government has released new guidelines like avoiding gathering of more than 10 people, eating in restaurants, and the practice of social distancing, it seems that other states are taking different ways of implementing it.

Six counties in the Bay Area have already implemented and set strict guidelines for implementing lockdown. They call the policy "shelter in place" where people are mandated to stay at home unless it is necessary for them to go out.

However, after the advice and warnings from Pres. Trump and CDC, many college students and tourists visited Clearwater Beach in Florida last weekend. It was observed that every state in the country is doing different things in implementing lockdown which confused its people.

Moreover, countries in Southeast Asia, like Malaysia and the Philippines, have implemented travel restrictions to mitigate the spread of the virus. 

Check these out!

The Battle for Life Between Italy's Old and Young

President Trump Announces Strict Guidelines to Combat COVID-19

San Francisco Mayor Orders Residents to Stay at Home for 3 Weeks!

Beach Goers in Florida Ignore COVID-19 Precautions