Marianella update 12-5-20 (COVID19)

Melvin Menjivar, from the Marianella community shares a community update:

 

He says that most people are emotionally exhausted due to the lockdown. “Keeping a very similar daily routine is tough but people are doing their best effort”.

When people get frustrated and wish to go visiting others, they are reminded that the goverment prohibits this as well as their internal regulation, which people approved of in an assembly.

“Luckily there are several natural green areas to get distracted…(people can) work in their crops or with their caddle”.

 

Nevertheless, the community is still taking turns to support the sanitization point.

This checkpoint has been supported by several groups: PROGRESO, the health promoter who has provided PURIAGUA, the mayor’s office that provided soap and bleach and the water committee that, alongside PROVIDA, has provided masks, gloves and alcohol gel. They have been supervised by the police.

Those who leave the community to work comply with disinfecting their clothes and vehicles, as well as taking showers upon arrival.

 

The government’s measure of allowing people to mobilize according to the last digit of their ID has been problematic in some places but it’s been a solution in others.

Since there is no longer public transportation, this has become another difficulty for people. They need to hire a vehicle to take them grocery shopping to Suchitoto on their appointed day.

The soccer field was closed after the first case was reported in Suchitoto in order to avoid crowds. When people go to the mills or go out buying from vendors, they are required to wear masks.

The community board is still looking for ways to support other families in the community. Some say that, as long as they have rice, corn and beans, they will be able to survive as they did during the war.

 

 

The surrounding communities are in contact and they all have agreed on a plan B. If a community gets affected, it will close entirely to prevent the disease from spreading to others.

 

 

 

You can hear his message below: