People will not be allowed to drink in public again in Cebu City starting Wednesday, February 3.
Mayor Edgar Labella announced the liquor ban during a press conference on Tuesday, February 2.
“While under IATF rules, a restaurant can serve up to two drinks. But I’ve noticed that it has been abused,” Labella told reporters.
“A report from the police revealed that they find it very difficult to monitor these drinking guys because instead of strictly following two servings, they consume a lot more and many of them have really caused this spike because there’s no more control,” Labella added.
The city’s COVID-19 Emergency Operations Center’s contact tracing data found that many of the new cases can be traced back to social gatherings which happened over the holidays.
After the city was placed under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), many of the city’s restaurants, cafes, and bars began to open and allow up to 75% capacity in their establishments.
The city does not plan to ask the COVID-19 national task force to change its quarantine status, but will impose stricter control over the movement of residents even as it is under MGCQ.
“I am very sorry to issue this executive order because I know that the business community would prefer that we should continue serving liquor,” Labella said. “But I have realized this is one of the major causes of this spike,” he added.
The city is asking businesses, especially those serving food and drinks, to enforce health protocols as restaurants are especially vulnerable to the COVID-19 contagion.
According to the latest data from the Department of Health in the Central Visayas, the city now has over 1,500 active cases. – Rappler.com
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