Physical Distancing Fail? Cop Chief in Manila Bay Sands Removed From Post

Crowds gathered at Manila Bay's artificial white sand beach over the weekend and photos showed that some failed to observe the minimum one meter physical distance from other people. This led to the removal of the police commander with jurisdiction in the area.

The head of the Ermita police command, Lt. Col. Ariel Caramoan, was relieved from his position, news reports quoted his superior, Manila police chief Brig. Gen. Rolando Miranda as saying. Reportr reached out to national spokesman of the Philippine National Police, Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, who said Miranda would elaborate on the development.

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Crowds were thickest along Roxas Boulevard, near the entrance to the white sand reclamation. They were relatively thinner once on the sand (actually, crushed dolomite rocks), where people posed for selfies and jump shots.

A one-meter distance between people during the COVID-19 pandemic could help save thousands of lives according to various studies. In fact, the one-meter requirement was maintained in public transport.

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Here are more photos from Sunday:

The reclamation area started accepting visitors as early as Saturday, to coincide with International Coastal Clean-up Day. Here are photos from that day: