DAVAO CITY – Authorities would impose stricter measures on mobility of residents here but said it would focus on senior citizens, those under 18 years old and those with existing health conditions.
Dr. Michelle Schlosser, spokesman of the City Covid-19 Task Force clarified this when the city officially entered its first day Friday of the elevated Alert Level 3 although Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio earlier clarified that movement restriction would not be about those
without vaccination cards.
Schlosser said the city government would implement mobility restrictions only in the three sectors that have been classified as vulnerable to contracting the Covid-19 virus. Anyone from these sectors may still be allowed to go out for “essential” purposes such as buying medicines, food and other important household and personal needs.
“Interzonal travel is okay but the local government unit has the right to restrict, in our case during our Alert Level 3, we are restricting 18 and below and people belonging to the vulnerable sector such as senior citizens, persons with comorbidities from going out if not
essential. Defining essential as those for health, for food, and other commodities,” Schlosser said.
However, private establishments here were given the green light to increase additional capacity for indoor and outdoor activities after the city hit the 100 percent target of vaccination for A2 and A3.
With an additional 20 percent capacity because of full vaccination of the A2 and A3, the establishments may now admit 50 percent of their operational capacity for indoor and 70 percent for outdoor.
Establishments would still be required to observe the minimum public health standards and exercise discretion when taking unvaccinated persons in places where people gather especially indoors.
To hold special events and meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE), establishments are advised to get Acknowledgement Form or Special Mayors Permit. But the City Tourism Operations Office said activities still not allowed are live performances,
karaoke/videoke bars, venues for live entertainment, kid amusement places, casinos, cockfighting, horse-racing, pageants, cultural/fashion shows, tournaments and political gatherings.
The CTTO said however, that it would follow the recent directive of the Department of Transportation restricting unvaccinated persons from accessing public transport, despite the announcement of Mayor Duterte-Carpio that it would not discriminate on the unvaccinated residents by curtailing their freedom to move around.
The CTTO said it would wait for advice and guidance from the Interagency Task Force on Covid-19 for the implementation of the DOTr order. “With this, public transportation by air, land, and sea will be allowing only fully vaccinated persons into and out of NCR. Proof of
vaccination will have to be presented upon buying tickets or checking in.”
Image credits: Michael O. Ligalig | Dreamstime.com