The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has allowed the resumption of dine-in services, as well as the reopening of barbershops and beauty parlors in areas under the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), Malacañang announced Thursday.
This, after members of the IATF-EID met on Thursday afternoon to finalize the list of establishments that may operate in MECQ zones.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the IATF-EID approved the recommendation to allow restaurants, eateries, commissaries, and other food preparation establishments to resume their indoor dine-in services in areas under MECQ “at an initial 10 percent venue or seating capacity.”
“These food preparation establishments, however, may operate their indoor dine-in services beyond this limitation, provided that they comply with Joint Memorandum Circular No. 21-01 (s. 2021) or the Safety Seal Certification Program,” Roque, also spokesperson of IATF-EID, said in a press statement issued Thursday night.
Initially, indoor dine-in services of food preparation establishments like commissaries, restaurants, and eateries are prohibited in places under MECQ.
The IATF-EID, Roque said, also allowed the resumption of operations of beauty salons, beauty parlors, barbershops and nail spas at an initial 30 percent venue or seating capacity in MECQ areas.
Personal care services of beauty salons, beauty parlors, barbershops are permitted, on condition that clients and service providers wear face masks “at all times,” Roque said.
“These personal care establishments, however, may operate beyond this limitation, provided that they comply with Joint Memorandum Circular No. 21-01 (s.2021) or the Safety Seal Certification Program,” he said.
Roque said other personal care establishments and services are still not allowed to operate.
Meaning, personal care services such as medical aesthetic clinics, cosmetic or derma clinics, make-up salons, reflexology, aesthetics, wellness and holistic centers, acupuncture and electrocautery establishments, massage therapy, tanning services, body piercings, tattooing and similar services remain prohibited, he added.
MECQ has been extended in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal, or the so-called National Capital Region Plus, until May 14.
SHORTENED CURFEW HOURS
Meanwhile, Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chief Benhur Abalos announced that Metro Manila mayors, through Resolution 21-09 Series of 2021, have unanimously agreed to adjust curfew hours starting May 1. New unified curfew hours will be from 10 pm to 4 am.
"All local chief executives in Metro Manila have agreed to enact their respective Executive Orders and/or adopt their respective Ordinances for the proper implementation of the standardized and unified curfew hours," the resolution stated.
The resolution was approved and signed by 17 local chief executives of Metro Manila on April 27.
To recall, the MMC decided to implement unified curfew hours from 8pm to 5am starting April 12 until the end of MECQ on April 30.
The MMC, comprised of the 17 LGUs of Metro Manila, is the governing and policy-making body of the MMDA. (from PNA and MMDA websites)
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