MISSING CONTEXT: Walking not allowed under ECQ in Cavite

At a glance:

• Claim: Walking, among other forms of outdoor activities, is not allowed under enhanced community quarantine in the province of Cavite.
• Rating: MISSING CONTEXT
• The facts: Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla issued an update, saying outdoor exercise within one’s residential vicinity is allowed between 6 am to 9 am.
• Why we fact-checked this: This claim was submitted through the “Fact-checking in the Philippines” Facebook group.

Complete details:

A viral graphic claimed that walking, among other forms of outdoor activities, is not allowed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the province of Cavite.

One repost of this graphic gained 71,000 reactions, 10,000 comments, and 207,000 shares as of writing, and is still being circulated. This claim was submitted through the Fact-checking in the Philippines Facebook group.

The claim is missing context.

On March 28, Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla did say in a Facebook post on ECQ guidelines that “Leisure activities are not allowed such as walking, jogging, zumba, tambay and parties.”

However, on March 29, he tweeted that walking or jogging is now allowed within the residential vicinity from 6 am to 9 am. In a Facebook post on March 30, citing changes in the guidelines of the national anti-COVID task force, he said “outdoor exercise” within the residential vicinity boundaries, such as within the village or barangay, is now allowed between 6 am and 9 am.

“This is to allow the body to be exposed to the morning sun and allow the natural production of Vitamin D which is effective in the fight against COVID-19,” he said.

Remulla added that group exercises or classes are prohibited, and those below 18 and over 65 years of age are still not allowed to go out. Physical distancing and mask-wearing must also be observed.

Proud Caviteño, the page that originally published the graphic, posted a new one reflecting Remulla’s update.

Meanwhile, the omnibus guidelines released by the government’s coronavirus task force said movement of all residents in areas placed under ECQ shall be limited to accessing essential goods and services, and for work in permitted offices or establishments and other listed activities.

ECQ in the Greater Manila Area began again on March 29, after the country logged a spike in COVID-19 cases. – Loreben Tuquero/Rappler.com

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