IATF-EID allows visits of small group to cemeteries

 A MAXINUM  of 10 people can now visit memorial parks and cemeteries in the country despite the continuing threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, Malacañang said on Friday.   

This developed after the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) amended on Thursday the omnibus guidelines on the implementation of the nationwide community quarantine, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.

“Nag-dagdag ng bagong probisyon ang IATF kung saan pinayagan ang pagdalaw sa open memorial parks at sementeryo, pero hindi dapat ito lumagpas ng sampu bawat grupo (The IATF included a new provision that allows visits to open memorial parks and cemeteries but each group should not be more than 10 people),” Roque said in a virtual presser.

The government would let the management of memorial parks and cemeteries decide on the number of groups that will be allowed to pay a visit at any given time, he said, adding that minimum public health standards and physical distancing must be observed.

“Ang minimum public health standards at social distancing ay ikinukonsidera (The minimum public health standards and social distancing must be considered),” Roque said.

The task force initially dissuaded the public from holding mass gatherings to contain the further spread of Covid-19 in the country.

It, however, eventually allowed mass gatherings for religious purposes or work conferences in places under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), provided that participants are limited to “50 percent of the seating or venue capacity.”

The IATF-EID further relaxed its quarantine rules in June after it authorized colleges and universities under MGCQ to also conduct mass gatherings at limited capacity.

Also in June, restaurants, cafes, and bars were given the authority to offer dine-in services until 9 p.m.

As of June 25, the Philippines has recorded 33,069 Covid-19 infections. A total of 8,910 Covid-19 patients have recovered while 1,212 infected people have died of the highly contagious disease. (By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos)