MANILA – The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has allowed the increase of 50 percent capacity for religious gatherings in general community quarantine (GCQ) areas starting Feb. 15.
The increase in venue capacity, according to Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque was agreed upon by the IATF-EID since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) attack rate is not increasing.
In the existing IATF-EID resolution, only 30% of the venue’s capacity is allowed in religious gatherings in GCQ areas. Bishops have urged the authorities to relax crowd limits for religious gatherings.
Moreover, the IATF-EID also allowed driving schools traditional cinemas, video and interactive-game arcades, libraries, archives, museums, cultural centers, meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions, limited social events at credited establishments of the Department of Tourism, limited tourist attractions, such as parks, theme parks, natural sites, and historical landmarks in GCQ areas to operate at 50% capacity.
According to Roque, these businesses will be subject to implementing guidelines that will provide for the operational capacity and oversight of the appropriate regulatory agency and the concerned local government units where these businesses or industries are located.
“Dahil nakikita natin na hindi tumataas ang attack rate. Hindi masikip ang ospital. Walang problema sa utilization rate. Kailangan din natin magbukas ng ekonomiya,” Roque said at Laging Handa virtual presser on Friday.
“Iyong mga nabuksan nating industriya, marami pong nagtatrabaho d’yan na matagal nang walang hanapbuhay. Ngayon po magkakahanapbuhay na silang muli,” he added.
Areas classified under GCQ for February are Metro Manila, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Batangas, Tacloban City, Davao City, Davao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, and Iligan City./PN
