Non-essential gatherings are out, DTI tells public

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) reiterated call to avoid non-essential gatherings to prevent reverting to stricter lockdown measures amid the pandemic.

DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez told reporters on Sunday that “avoiding non-essential gatherings,” in addition to “strict adherence to health protocol” are needed so the economy will not be placed under too many restrictions again.

Last month, Lopez blamed the recent surge in Covid-19 cases to “secret parties,” such as reunions of family and friends, held by people trying to find some respite from “lockdown fatigue.”

These meetings, he said, are not being monitored, which means there is a possibility that people are not following strictly the health and social distancing protocols. However, the Trade department did not present a study to support the said claim at the time.

To avoid going back to ECQ, Lopez said there is also a need to increase healthcare capacity. “There will [be] more teams to be fielded out for the monitoring in different places,” he said.

“The communities, public places and workplaces are required to comply with the health protocol,” the Trade official added.

MECQ for NCR Plus

On Sunday, the government eased the lockdown measures of the national Capital Region (NCR), Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna and Cavite to modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) effective until the end of this month. The City of Santiago and Quirino in Region 2 and Abra were placed under the same measure.

According to guidelines sent by Lopez, MECQ constitutes strict home quarantine, only allowing mobility for purchase of essential goods and services and work in permitted offices or establishments.

All establishments allowed to operate under ECQ are permitted to operate at full on-site capacity under MECQ.

Indoor dine-in restaurants are also not permitted under MECQ. Outdoor dine-in, meanwhile, is allowed at 50 percent capacity with diagonal seating or acrylic dividers.

All establishments banned from operating during ECQ can operate at 50 percent on-site capacity in MECQ. At the same time, these should also encourage work-from-home and other flexible work schemes if possible.

Under MECQ, the establishments that are not given permission to operate include theaters, cinemas, internet cafes, amusement parks, casinos, libraries, museums and beauty salons, among others.