The Department of Health (DOH) reminds Filipinos to still be vigilant despite the recent government announcement that it would allow the reopening of cinemas, arcades, and other leisure businesses in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) starting Monday, February 15.

“Huwag po tayong maging complacent. Kahit po binubuksan na iyong ibang sektor sa ating bansa para po sa ating ekonomiya kailangang we have to comply with the minimum health standards,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said during the Laging Handa public briefing on Saturday, February 13.

(Let’s not be complacent. Even though other sectors in our country are starting to reopen for our economy, we still have to comply with the minimum health standards.)

Vergeire also said that the people’s compliance to the health protocols set by the DOH is “our safeguard” during the transition.

Adherence to existing health guidelines

DOH’s existing guidelines for the minimum health protocols will still apply to the concerned sectors.

Dr Butch Ong of the OCTA research group said the following should be observed in venues reopening amid the pandemic: the ventilation should be open, people should wear face masks and face shields, and there should be proper distancing.

“Kung magagawa naman natin lahat ito, posible naman talaga na mag-open talaga iyong mga facilities and to make the wheels of commerce moving ‘no. Naiintindihan naman natin na kailangan naman talaga ma-stimulate iyong economy natin at this point in time. Ang kailangan lang ay sumunod lang tayo sa ating mga minimum health standards,” Ong said.

(If we can do all this, the opening of facilities would really be possible. We understand that there’s a need to stimulate the economy at this point. And what we really need is to adhere to our minimum health standards.)

Ong added that the need to reopen businesses to boost the economy, which plunged to its worst contraction since World War II, is understandable. But he said that it has to be balanced with the people’s discipline to follow the minimum health protocols to curb the spread of COVID-19.

“Kapag nagtuluy-tuloy po na tataas ang mga kaso, babalik po tayo doon sa dati nating estado na nakasara lahat ng mga sektor natin at ayaw na nating bumalik doon. So, let us cooperate, huwag po tayong pumunta sa mga matataong lugar and always do the minimum health protocols,” Vergeire also said.

(If the increase in cases continues, we will revert to our old state where all of our sectors were shuttered – and we don’t want to go back to that. So let us cooperate, let’s not go to crowded places, and let’s always do the minimum health protocols.)

‘Collegial decision’

Vergeire said the decision to loosen the restrictions in sectors in areas under GCQ was a “collegial decision” among the country’s top officials, particularly the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for COVID-19.

Increased capacity for religious services will also be allowed, from the existing 30% to 50%.

Other industries and activities included in the announcement were driving schools, traditional cinemas, video and interactive game arcades, libraries, archives, museums, cultural centers, meetings, conferences, exhibitions, and limited social events and accredited establishments of the tourism department.

As of Saturday, February 13, the Philippines has recorded 547,255 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Of this, 11,507 died while 500,781 recovered. – Rappler.com