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| (Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases logo.) |
TACLOBAN CITY — The government will further relax some of its health restriction policies in areas under general community quarantine such as increasing the number of people who can attend religious gatherings, and allowing cinemas and arcades to open.
According to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Friday, the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) approved that from the current 30 percent capacity for religious gatherings, it will be increased to 50 percent in GCQ areas.
The law will take effect on February 15. Tacloban City is among the places on GCQ.
Roque added that IATF has also allowed some industries or activities to open up or increase their capacity. But they have to follow the policy of the Department of Health (DOH) and local government units (LGUs).
These include the following:
* driving schools
* traditional cinemas
* video and interactive game arcades
* libraries, archives, museums, and cultural centers
* meetings, incentives conferences, and exhibitions
* limited social events
* accredited establishments of the Department of Tourism, and
* tourist attractions such as parks, theme parks, natural sites, and historical landmarks.
But Roque reminded: "Such businesses and industries still need to strictly adhere to the minimum health standards of the Department of Health."
A looser GCQ policy was allowed because the "attack rate" of the COVID-19 disease did not increase, according to Roque.
"We see that our attack rate is not rising, and our hospitals are not crowded. In other words, we have no problem when it comes to our utilization rate," said the official.
“And of course this is in line with the fact that we need to open up the economy because our countrymen need to have more jobs. Those industries that we have opened, there are many people who work there for a long time without a job, now they can work again," he continued.
Aside from Tacloban City, Metro Manila the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Batangas, Davao City, Davao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, and Iligan City are also subject to GCQ. iTacloban
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