Ready or not
Amusement parks and entertainment establishments very often cater to families with small children, usually those below 10 years of age.
Covid-19 cases have continued to rise, in spite of strict health protocols and quarantine restrictions.
Businesses that are able to operate nowadays continue to feel the pinch simply because there continues to be a lack of customers from transport limitations and health restrictions. The Covid-19 vaccines are scheduled to arrive in a matter of weeks but, as yet, we do not know the nitty-gritty of the government’s rollout plans.
Above are some points to think about.
Has anything changed that would have merited the recent announcement of government allowing the reopening of “cinemas, game arcades and other leisure activities in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ)?”
The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) “has also allowed driving schools, libraries, archives, museums and cultural centers, meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions, theme parks and tourist attractions to resume operations,” according to a CNN report on 12 February.
Also: “Social events can also be held in establishments accredited by the Department of Tourism (DoT).”
Some red flags were raised on Valentine’s weekend as a result of these latest announcements.
First, Metro Manila mayors themselves expressed concern on such a move as it may possibly result in a surge of Covid-19 cases.
In particular, they worry that the opening of cinemas which are enclosed spaces with recirculated air could easily transmit the virus. After all, moviegoers will be breathing the same air for an estimated two hours.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairperson Benjamin Abalos Jr. explained in a television program that although the mayors would rather err on the side of caution, they may likely bow to the national government’s decision on this, and perhaps just adjust by imposing their own guidelines on the local level when the time comes.
So, here’s the question: did the IATF come up with the decision just because the Department of Trade and Industry and the National Economic Development Authority had recommended allowing children to go out as part of the planned slow-but-sure reopening of economic activity?
Because while that may be well-intentioned, the fact remains that businesses nowadays may only suffer from further losses should the rule be imposed without further review.
Top reason is that another IATF rule — age restrictions — could end up negating its newest rule.
In late January, it was announced that the pandemic task force was allowing kids 10 years and older, and elderly people 65 and younger, to step outside their homes starting on 1 February, for areas under the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).
Let’s say cinemas and game arcades in malls are given the IATF go-signal, then malls would require them to open even if they would prefer not to do so yet.
Why wouldn’t they want to reopen yet? Because there is not be enough customers at this point to cover the costs of operations and rental of spaces. As what happened to many mall-based businesses last year, many operated at a loss, leading some to close shop.
That meant jobs lost — and that meant, as well, stuck economic activity.
If the IATF has very good reasons for its decision, then it needs to explain these very well to a public that keeps wondering how in the world our leaders are coming up with their pandemic moves.
“If
the IATF has very good reasons for its decision, then it needs to explain these very well to a public that keeps wondering how in the world our leaders are coming up with their pandemic moves.
“While that may be well-intentioned, the fact remains that businesses nowadays may only suffer from further losses should the rule be imposed without further review.