City mayors will be left to decide on the reopening of internet cafes in Metro Manila, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez announced today.
Lopez told ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo that mayors would also be allowed to impose additional health protocols in gyms, which are set to reopen today as the National Capital Region remains under the general community quarantine (GCQ). Gyms were supposed to reopen last month, but the national government postponed it.
The Trade Department chief’s announcement comes a day after President Rodrigo Duterte announced that Metro Manila, Bulacan, and Batangas would remain under GCQ until Sept. 30. The rest of the country will be under the modified general community quarantine except Iligan City, where the modified enhanced community quarantine has been implemented.
“When it comes to internet cafes, we will leave Metro Manila mayors to decide when they can open, [or] where they will be allowed to open,” Lopez said in English and Filipino.
“When it comes to gyms, they can recommend [additional] guidelines. In other words, the percentage of people who will be allowed [inside and] any extra health protocol standards. Hopefully, we will continue to reopen the economy so that we can provide stability for many businesses,” he added.
Meanwhile, review centers, dermatological clinics, businesses offering personal care and grooming services, and cinemas will be allowed to reopen, as long as physical distancing is enforced and customers are wearing protective gear such as face masks.
The Philippines has the most number of COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asia, with 220,819 as of yesterday, including 157,559 recoveries and 3,563 deaths.
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