MANILA, Philippines — Christmas parties could be banned in Metro Manila after mayors in the capital agreed they would only lead to a spike in COVID-19 cases.
In a TV interview on Monday, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said mayors in the National Capital Region met the night before to discuss the holiday season in relation to the pandemic.
According to him, they were concerned about an increase in coronavirus cases during the holidays.
‘Not ready’
“We are not yet ready for Christmas parties because we would surely return to a spike [in COVID-19 cases],” Año said, citing the opening of bars in Europe that caused cases to rise anew.
Mall sales, on the other hand, have been allowed by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases with minimum health standards, including physical distancing, being strictly observed by mall owners.