A HAIRCUT, dine-in service and a movie are just among the activities that people who live in areas under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) can look forward to under the government’s latest guidelines.
In its Resolution 38, Series of 2020, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) allowed the said activities under its revised Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines.
Among the highlights of the issuance is that it allows the resumption of mass gatherings such as movie screenings, concerts, sports events and other entertainment activities in MGCQ.
However, only 50 percent of the venue or seating capacity of such events will be allowed.
Religious gatherings will also be allowed in MGCQ areas depending on the appropriate IATF guidelines for it.
Barber shops, salons and other personal-care services and dine-in services are also set to make a comeback in MGCQ areas provided such establishments comply with the 50-percent seating capacity rule.
The activities belong to the so-called Category 4 sectors of the IATF, which are banned from operating in areas under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), modified ECQ (MECQ) and general community quarantine (GCQ).
Other sectors included in the Category 4 industries are gyms and sports facilities; kid amusement; libraries, archives, museums and cultural centers; as well as tourist agencies and tourists destinations.
“Other Category 4 and all other establishments not permitted to operate under previous sections of these guidelines, at a maximum of 50 percent operational capacity,” the IATF said in its Resolution 38.
Currently, there are still no areas in the country under MGCQ. However, this may change after May 31, 2020, after the IATF reclassifies the community quarantine of an area depending on its number of novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases and medical service capacity.
MGCQs are areas with the most relaxed public movement and activity restrictions among the four classifications of community quarantine.
Areas which are most likely to be placed under MGCQ are those which are already under GCQ.
These include the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), provinces of Tarlac and Aurora, as well as Regions 1, 2, 4-A (except Laguna), 4-B, 5, 6, 7 (except the cities of Cebu and Mandaue), 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
The new resolution was approved by IATF members last Friday after they conducted their video conference.
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