IATF OKs reopening of internet shops, gyms, drive-in cinemas in GCQ areas
MANILA, Philippines — The Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has approved the reopening of gyms, internet shops, tutorial and review centers, and drive-in cinemas in areas under general community quarantine starting August 1, Malacañang said Wednesday.
“The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases on Wednesday, July 28, 2020, recategorized the classification of Category IV industries to Category III industries to allow their limited operations in areas under the general community quarantine,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.
“These include testing and tutorial centers, review centers, gyms, fitness centers and sport facilities, internet cafes, establishments offering personal grooming and aesthetic services, pet grooming, and drive-in cinemas,” he added.
The decision of the IATF was earlier disclosed by Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez who said that the reopening of these businesses is only up to 30 percent capacity, provided that they follow health protocols.
Lopez said the IATF approved the reopening of these businesses up to 30 percent of capacity, provided that they follow health protocols.
“Nilabas namin yung rekomendasyon kahapon at napagusapan din kagabi, cinonfirm naman nila yung mga ni-recommend ng DTI para po sa dahan dahan, sa gradual reopening,” Lopez said in an interview over Teleradyo.
(We presented the recommendation yesterday and we talked about it last night, they confirmed the recommendations of the DTI for the gradual reopening.)
“Desisyon na po ito pero effective August 1 pa.”
(This is already a decision but it will take effect August 1.)
“Yung testing, tutorial, review center, yung gyms, fitness centers, and facilities. Saka yung internet cafes. Yung internet cafes, dahil sa education din saka sa trabaho. Dahil sa blended learning, e-learning, inopen din yun,” he added.
(The testing, tutorial and review centers, gyms, fitness center, and facilities and internet cafes. On the internet cafes, it was allowed to reopen due to education and for work.)
Other personal grooming services will also be allowed to operated except whole body massages, Lopez added.
“Isa pa pong sektor na hindi pa natin nabanggit pa, yung mga grooming services, marami po dyan na franchise concept, ay in-allow na rin po. Sa nails, sa skincare, sa aesthetic,” Lopez said.
(Another sector we have yet to mention is grooming services, many of which are franchise concepts, have also been allowed—nails, skincare, aesthetic.)
“In-allow na rin yan ngayon at yung bagong konsepto na drive-in cinema na pinopropose po ng ilang business sector, basta nakita namang safe ito,” he added.
(The concept of drive-in cinemas proposed by some business sectors are also allowed as long as it’s safe.)
Lopez said the operating capacity may still increase depending on the compliance of the businesses to health protocols like observing physical distancing, wearing of masks, and checking of temperature.
“Pero don’t worry katulad naman nung nangyari sa barbershop and dine-in restaurants, after a few weeks, kapag maganda ang compliance nila sa health protocol at sumusunod po sila don, may allowance tayo na mag-iincrease din ang capacity to 50 percent,” Lopez said.
(Just like what happened to barbershops and dine-in restaurants, if their compliance to health protocols is good after a few weeks, we may allow increasing their capacity to 50 percent.)
