ni Lolet Abania | October 14, 2021
Ipinahayag ng Department of Health (DOH) ngayong Huwebes na dapat na i-monitor nang husto kung ang muling pagbubukas ng mga sinehan sa Metro Manila ay magdudulot ng pagtaas ng mga kaso ng COVID-19.
Una nang pinayagan na magbukas simula Oktubre 16 ang mga sinehan sa Metro Manila matapos na ang Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) ay aprubahan nitong Miyerkules na ibaba sa Alert Level 3 ang National Capital Region (NCR).
“For as long as the minimum public health standards are followed, we can give it a try and then monitor. We’ll see if there’s going to be an unusual increase of cases if and when cinemas are opened,” ani DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III sa isang interview.
“But again this is controlled, regulated to about 30% [indoor venue capacity for fully vaccinated individuals]…it means there is spacing, then you have the face mask, and then the cinemas must have [or] they have filters similar to the ones being used inside an airplane. I think they upgraded their ventilation,” dagdag ng kalihim.
Ipapatupad ang Alert Level 3 sa buong Metro Manila mula Oktubre 16 hanggang 31.
Sa ilalim ng naturang alert level, ang mga establisimyento gaya ng cinemas at amusement parks, gayundin ang in-person religious gatherings at limited face-to-face classes para sa higher education at technical-vocational education and training ay pinapayagan nang magbukas sa maximum na 30% ng indoor venue capacity para sa indibidwal na fully vaccinated lamang habang 50% para sa outdoor venue capacity.
Sa gitna ng pangamba ng mga healthcare workers hinggil sa pag-downgrade ng alert level kung saan anila ay “masyado pang maaga”, tiniyak naman ni Duque na patuloy ang gobyerno na panatilihin ang kailangang flexibility pagdating sa COVID-19 response.
“Well, you use the system calls for weekly monitoring of the cases that are registered on a daily basis. So no worries because we are nimble. I mean, we can always escalate,” sabi ni Duque.