MANILA, Philippines — The reopening of cinemas and different vacationer sights in Metro Manila and different areas the place COVID-19 circumstances stay excessive was opposed yesterday by Vice President Leni Robredo, who requested whether or not the choice was “backed by science.”
“It’s a trigger for concern. I actually don’t know what the science behind it’s,” Robredo stated in her Sunday radio broadcast over dzXL.
COVID-19 response policymaker, the Inter-Company Activity Drive for the Administration of Rising Infectious Illnesses (IATF), has all the time claimed its choices had been based mostly on science.
This time, Robredo questioned if the choice to reopen extra companies working in closed areas was “backed by science,” noting that the nation has but to decelerate the transmission of the virus.
The Vice President stated there’s a greater threat of COVID-19 transmission in enclosed areas comparable to cinemas and video arcades.
“We perceive that we have to reopen the financial system… however the persons are nonetheless afraid to exit,” she stated.
Aside from cinemas, the IATF has allowed driving colleges, libraries, museums, video arcades, theme parks and vacationer sights on the whole neighborhood quarantine (GCQ) areas to renew operations.
“The easiest way to reopen the financial system is to successfully handle the rising transmission and make sure the nation’s provide of COVID-19 vaccines,” Robredo stated.
She additionally lamented the dearth of representatives from native authorities models within the decision-making technique of the IATF.
Metro Manila mayors are planning to attraction the duty power’s newest determination, saying they weren’t correctly consulted.
“I wrote a letter to the IATF mid final 12 months and I made some ideas, amongst these is the inclusion of representatives from barangays, municipalities, cities and provinces. For this explicit cause, they’re those who know the state of affairs on the bottom,” Robredo stated.
She stated different nations that loosen quarantine restrictions prioritize the opening of public transportation and colleges.
She has lengthy been proposing the conduct of face-to-face courses in areas with out native transmission of COVID-19.
In the meantime, the Catholic Bishops’ Convention of the Philippines (CBCP) reminded the devoted to proceed following well being protocols as church buildings in GCQ areas, together with Metro Manila, are actually allowed 50 % capability.
“Whereas some protocols are actually being relaxed, we urge the general public to nonetheless train warning as COVID-19 hasn’t been extinguished but from our midst,” stated Fr. Jerome Secillano, CBCP public affairs committee govt secretary.
The IATF has allowed the elevated attendance for non secular gatherings beginning right now, forward of Ash Wednesday on Feb. 17 and a number of actions marking 500 years of Christianity within the nation.
For the reason that begin of the COVID-19 pandemic, Catholic church buildings have been strictly abiding by the well being protocols and tips issued by the IATF to make sure that their parishioners are protected from the extremely contagious illness.
“We’re nonetheless not protected from this virus and its unpredictable nature makes it actually a risk to everybody’s well being,” warned Secillano, including that well being and security protocols carried out by the church would proceed.
These embrace correct spacing in pews and church areas, bodily distancing, disinfecting seats after each mass, and assigning entry and exit doorways. — Evelyn Macairan
