COVID-19 Safety Tips & Precautions

Automart.Ph has seen first-hand how COVID-19 has impacted the economy.  It has seen the rise of repossessed vehicles as evidenced by the burgeoning inventory in Automart-managed warehouses and car lots.  It’s been over a year since it started but the COVID-19 pandemic continues to make it hard for everyone. The ongoing economic woes, the painful closure of small businesses, the struggles of all the affected industries, the inability to pay off loans and other bills, and the alarming rise in COVID-19-related cases--all these things show how we are more impacted than we ever care to admit.

How is it really changing your life?  And what are you doing to get by?

The Sad Truth

The unfortunate fact is that the virus will be here to stay, and scientists say that it will eventually become endemic. It will pose less danger over time--both bad and good news. Bad, in the sense that we will have to endure this situation a little bit longer; good that it will gradually become less of a threat once we get vaccinated and all. But until then we must do our part in making sure that everyone around us, our families, friends, workmates, and ourselves included, are safe and COVID-free.

The question becomes, how do we do it? And if we are already doing it, how do we keep on doing it?

Flattening The Curve

Flattening the curve means slowing the spread of the Coronavirus over time through social distancing and by using other known scientific/logical means, eventually resulting in a gradual decrease in the rate of COVID-19 transmission from person to person.

As of this writing, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases continue to rise at an alarming rate and our health care systems might not be able to take in any more. The last thing that we want is for our hospitals to be overloaded so we must take part in the so-called “flattening the curve” which we tend to hear a lot. But what does it really mean?

It means doing our part in lessening the spread of the virus. At Automart.Ph, for example, we ensure that warehouse visitors and staff adhere to set COVID-19 health and safety protocols. The wearing of face masks during site visits and car inspections is mandatory.  Necessary safeguards and safety measures to maintain operations with reduced risk are in place because we want to beat this as much as everybody else does.

Tips & Precautions

What can you do on your part?

1. Wash your hands frequently

The Coronavirus spreads between people through direct and indirect contact (through contaminated objects) with infected individuals so the importance of handwashing becomes apparent from the get-go. It is the simplest yet one of the most effective measures against the spread of COVID-19.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the frequent washing of your hands is a simple act that pays in dividends when it comes to keeping ourselves healthy and safe. So make it a habit to wash your hands with soap and water, or sanitize with alcohol-based products to avoid any risks of transmitting or getting the virus.

2. Wear a face mask and a face shield

Wearing some protective equipment can make all the difference. A face mask and a face shield can protect both you and the people around you from contracting the virus.

We care about your health in the same way that we care about our people’s well-being. Hence, as a matter of COVID-19 protocol, Automart.ph requires that you wear a face mask and a face shield at all times during client meetups or unit inspections.

3. Observe social distancing

What is “Social Distancing” and why is it important in the first place?

Social distancing simply means keeping a safe space of at least one meter between yourself and other people. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), COVID-19 spreads mainly among people who are in close contact for a prolonged period of time. The virus spreads when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, and droplets from their mouth or nose are launched into the air and land in the mouths or noses of people nearby.

Since everyone around you can spread the virus before even knowing that they are sick, it is important to practice physical distancing when possible, even if you or they do not have any symptoms at all. Social distancing is especially important for people who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 so keep a distance of at least one meter apart from others. This applies whether you are outside or inside an establishment. This is true even when checking out used or repossessed cars at Automart-managed warehouses.

4. Have your temperature checked upon entering the workplace or other establishments

You will probably find this as a common occurrence nowadays when you enter establishments, but your cooperation can get you--and everyone around you--a long way.

This is why we are very careful in the warehouses of our partners to ensure the safety of all our potential buyers and advisers alike.

So get your temperature taken by the guard and fill in the contact tracing sheet properly with your correct information whenever you enter an establishment. This will take us a long way in our fight with COVID.

5. Watch out for signs and symptoms of COVID-19.

Be open about your symptoms and reach out to the nearest Health Center, Rural Health Unit (RHU), or hospital in your area. This is something that we shouldn’t fear and is definitely something that we need to be honest about as responsible citizens.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Fever (> 37.5° C)
• Chills
• Cough/colds
• Diarrhea
• Severe headache
• Loss of sense of smell/taste
• Tiredness
• Generalized weakness

6. Don’t stress yourself

If you find yourself having the symptoms of COVID-19, it is important that you stay calm. Stressing about it will certainly not help and will oftentimes only make it worse, so don’t stress and isolate yourself from the rest of your household.

Reach out to the nearest health center or to your nearest Rural Health Unit (RHU) and they will know what to do. A confirmatory test will likely follow and you will be provided instructions on what to do next, so it’s very important that you communicate with your RHU.

7. Stay at home

Staying at home and only going out when it’s absolutely necessary minimizes your risk of being exposed to COVID-19. The fewer people you’re around you, the lower your chance of infection.

While Automart.Ph understands that it is always best to check out cars before signing up to buy them, that is why an option to view cars by virtual inspection is in place.  This means interested buyers can still buy used, second-hand, or repossessed cars from the safety of their homes.  If you need to buy a car or are just in the mood to browse for your next potential ride online, you can do so online.  Automart.Ph offers a complete online car shopping experience that is hugely beneficial toward your safety and convenience.

Automart.ph is serious about beating COVID-19 and the safety of our customers and our people is of utmost importance. Let us all do our share in adhering to the health protocols during this pandemic and we will eventually survive this together.