Only fully vaxxed could watch, play contact sports — NCR mayors

Benhur Abalos holds the Metro Manila Council resolution which only allows fully vaccinated individuals to play and watch contact sports, during a press briefing at the MMDA headquarters in Makati. Photo from MMDA.

MANILA, Philippines — The Metro Manila Council (MMC) has recommended to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) that only those fully vaccinated against COVID-19 be allowed to watch and play contact sports in Metro Manila, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benhur Abalos announced Saturday.

Abalos said the MMC has formalized its unanimous recommendation to the IATF through MMDA Resolution No. 21-28.

“Considering that, in the conduct of a contact sport, the players are prone or susceptible to physical proximity with one another while the spectators are inclined or given to cheer, jeer, shout, chant, or sing collectively or in a crowd, only fully-vaccinated adults and minors shall be allowed to play or watch in an organized or unorganized event,” read the resolution, which was approved and adopted on Friday.

“This is to ‘incentivize’ persons to get vaccinated,” it added.

The resolution said players also have the option not to wear a face mask while playing, but should wear a face mask and observe social distancing while not playing. The audience and spectators and all other persons should also wear face masks and observe social distancing at all times.

Indoor facilities should only be filled up to 50 percent, while outdoor areas at 70 percent of their capacity will only cater to fully vaccinated adults, according to IATF’s guidelines.

This, however, is still subject to IATF’s approval, according to Abalos.

“With these guidelines, we are recommending to the IATF, we can help the contact sports industry to get back in the game and give motivation to the public, especially the sports enthusiasts, to get fully vaccinated. However, we have to wait for the IATF’s approval on this matter,” Abalos said.

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