Holding hands, kissing no longer allowed in public

MANILA---Public displays of affection such as kissing, holding hands and embracing will no longer be allowed in public, even between a husband and wife, or among family members.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Debold Sinas on Wednesday, March 10, 2021, said he has instructed all police units to call out those engaged in such acts of physical intimacy in public places as these violate the physical distancing protocol. He said the PNP will intensify enforcement of physical distancing and other minimum public health standards to curb transmission of Sars-CoV-2, which cau ses coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

“Papaigtingin lang natin kasi nga part of the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) at mga locals are already alarmed again kasi medyo tumaas. So PDA (public display of affection), ‘yung hawakhawak sisitahin na rin ‘yan. Dati naman sinisita ‘yan pero ngayon kasi medyo nagluwag tayo but ipagpapatuloy natin ‘yan,” Sinas said in an interview in Camp Cr ame.

“We cannot afford to lower our guard against the virus, especially at this point when the cure is already within reach,” he added.

There is no cure for Covid-19 yet, but the

Philippines has launched vaccinations against the infection using the over 1.1 million doses of Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines donated by China and Covax, respect i vel y.

Police Brigadier General Ildebrandi Usana, PNP spokesperson, said policemen will merely caution violators. No one will be arrested.

Sinas reiterated his appeal for cooperation from the public. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)