INTERIOR Secretary Eduardo Año yesterday said Christmas caroling in Metro Manila and in areas under Alert Level 2 or the equivalent community quarantine classification will be allowed this year but said carolers are required to observe minimum public health standards, such as the wearing of face mask and social distancing.
Año, a key member of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), said that Christmas caroling, regardless of the age of participants, is an outdoor activity, and thus allowed in areas where the COVID-19 transmission rate is low, and the vaccination rate is high.
“Yes, (its) allowed but they must wear mask. Under Alert Level 2, caroling is allowed,” said Año, adding that even children are allowed to go house to house for the caroling.
Christmas caroling is a seasonal tradition in the country, where groups, usually kids, go house to house to serenade homeowners with different Christmas songs. In turn, homeowners are expected to give the carolers a token of appreciation, usually in the form of money or food.
The National Capital Region is under Alert Level 2 until November 21. The IATF has allowed children of all ages to already go out and visit parks and malls, and even ride in public utility vehicles.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Tuesday said the region can shift to Alert 1 if the downtrend in COVID cases continue, a position backed by the independent OCTA Research which projected that infections in the NCR may drop to less than 200 per day by the end of November if the trend continues.
Año said that “if there will be a transmission (surge), we’ll go up to Alert Level 3 or 4 so we really need the cooperation of people.”
DILG undersecretary and spokesman Jonathan Malaya confirmed Año’s announcement: “Yes, caroling is allowed under Alert Level 2. So, it depends on the alert level or CQ (community quarantine) classification of the area.”
“Under Alert 2, caroling is allowed provided that MPHS (minimum public health standards) is strictly followed and subject to the operational capacity of the venue of the caroling: 50% and vaccinated individuals only if indoor, and 70% if outdoor,” added Malaya.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire reminded those planning to go on Christmas caroling next month to maintain the necessary safeguards to prevent transmission of the virus.
“Always keep in mind that it should be done outdoors, and continue to wear face masks and face shields in doing so,” said Vergeire, adding that singing brings out more respiratory particles, including COVID-19.
The DOH had said that loud singing increases viral particle spread by 448 percent compared to normal talking.
DILG undersecretary for operations Epimaco Densing III said the NCR is well qualified to be placed under Alert Level 1 because “the minimum criteria to be under Alert Level 1 is 70 percent of seniors and persons with comorbidities and 70 percent of the (eligible) population are vaccinated. It’s only NCR that achieved that.”
“It’s only NCR that can go under Alert Level 1 and there is already a momentum for the National Capital Region to go under Alert Level 1 based on what we call the COVID-19 case data,” added Densing.
Densing said life under Alert Level 1 will be almost similar prior to the outbreak of COVID-19.
“Alert Level 1 is the new normal, we’re bringing back all the activities prior to the pandemic. But the new normal requires wearing face mask, observing physical distancing while talking to one another and you have to constantly wash your hands. That’s the new normal, that’s our life (under Alert Level 1), almost similar (prior to pandemic),” he said.
“There are no restrictions under Alert Level 1, what we only need to do is to be strict in minimum public health standards, wearing of face shield, social distancing. That is the environment under Alert Level 1, everything is open,” he also said.
CINEMAS
The San Juan government yesterday reopened one of its cinemas but only to fully vaccinated individuals.
Mayor Francis Zamora inspected the health and safety protocols of the Greenhills Promenade Cinema, including the disinfection process of the establishment and the ticket purchase procedure, seating arrangements subject to strict physical distancing, and the guidelines of actual movie viewing.
“With the approval of the IATF, we are allowing the opening of our cinemas in the city, provided that we take extra care and observe stringent protocols as we are still facing threats of COVID-19 despite the easing of restrictions to Alert Level 2,” Zamora said.
“The re-opening of cinemas and other recreational establishments is another indication that we are slowly taking our lives back,” the mayor added.
The Cinema Exhibitors Association of the Philippines (CEAP) last week announced that several cinema houses in the country have been given the go signal to resume partial operation effective yesterday.
Under the updated IATF guidelines, only fully vaccinated individuals will be allowed in indoor cinemas, and 50% outdoor venue capacity. Movie goers should be seated one seat apart, while wearing their face masks at all times, except when drinking. Food will not be allowed inside the cinema, except for drinks.
The CEAP said that in Metro Manila, the following cinemas are already open for fully vaccinated individuals: In Makati City — Century, Circuit, Glorietta 4, and Powerplant; in Malabon — Fishermall; in Manila — Cinerama and Lucky Chinatown; in Muntinlupa – Festival Mall; in Parañaque – Ayala Malls Manila Bay; in Pasay — Newport; in Quezon City — Cloverleaf, Eastwood, Fairview Terraces, Fishermall, Gateway, and Trinoma; in San Juan — Greenhills and Santolan Town Plaza; and in Taguig – Bonifacio High Street, Market Market, Uptown and Venice.
Several cinemas have also opened outside of Metro Manila. These are in Bohol — Alturas, Bohol Quality, and Island City; Iloilo — Festive Walk; Laguna — Southwoods; Rizal — Sta. Lucia; Tagaytay — Fora; and Tarlac — Magic Star. — With Gerard Naval and Christian Oineza
