As part of our #COVID19 preventive measures, the CRC Asia Secretariat based in Manila is observing a temporary four-day workweek. Please be guided by the new office schedule above. The resumption of our regular office hours will be announced once the situation gets better.

Aside from the reduction of workdays and work from home arrangements, CRC Asia is also requiring all the staff who have traveled outside the country, either for business or personal purposes, to undergo a 14-day self-quarantine, whether or not the staff is showing symptoms.

In pursuit of the best interest of the child, we encourage everyone to observe guidelines on personal safety measures in the spirit of social solidarity.

Good personal hygiene such as frequent and thorough handwashing with soap and water for about 20 seconds is seen to be best paired with the public health efforts of isolation, quarantine, and social distancing (keeping people out of congregate settings, avoiding mass gatherings, etc). Here are some good articles to read on social distancing from Global News and Vox. These will help us protect ourselves and those in our communities who are seen to be most vulnerable to the impacts of the virus.

While social media has been helpful in the quick dissemination of information about the virus around the world, we encourage everyone to share on the internet and social media news and infographics that come from credible sources and are backed by evidence. This also helps children get only the right information about the disease during this time of public health emergency as studies about the virus continue to evolve. We can also put social media to best use in supporting and checking up on our colleagues, families, and friends and ask how they are doing.

Public health systems and frontline healthcare workers can be overwhelmed by the needed care in response to COVID-19 while caring for people with existing diseases and other health concerns. We also encourage everyone to engage and coordinate with your respective governments for services and cooperate in local context-based and nation-wide efforts to bring the disease under control.

Thank you and stay safe, everyone!