low-income workers take quick lunch amid covid-19 fight picture 1
With all restaurants and eateries across the capital shutting from midday on May 25, only take-away services are being permitted as a way of curbing the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus among the local community.
Poor workers, including Xe Om drivers, must find parks, gardens, or even the pavement, in order to rest and have lunch.
Xe Om drivers and street vendors eat their lunch under the shade of trees in Ha Dong district to avoid sunlight.
The impact of the COVID-19 outbreak forces poor workers to eat their lunch quickly.
After eating, this poor worker dons her face mask and doesn’t linger in the park for too long amid COVID-19 fears.
Minh, a local Xe Om driver, says on normal days he would lunch in various food outlets. However, due to their recent closure, he is forced to have his meal on the pavement instead.
Consuming lunch amid conditions such as heavy dust and a strong heat wave is normal for poor workers these days.
Despite facing numerous difficulties, workers remain optimistic and continue to earn a living for themselves and their families.
The pandemic has made the lives of workers more difficult, with each having to adapt so as to both ensure their health and a stable income for their families.