Quezon City residents looking to organize gatherings for community service on Thursday were required to inform local government officials at least five days in advance to prevent superspreader events.
This comes after several gatherings in Barangay Matandang Balara and Holy Spirit resulted in surge of COVID-19 cases.
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“We need to impose stricter measures to ensure that there won’t be a repeat of such incidents. Nasasayang lang ang ating mga pinaghirapan kung may mangyayaring mga pagtitipon na mauuwi sa pagtaas ng impeksiyon,” Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said.
All organizers of gatherings for community service or humanitarian purposes must inform the Department of Public Order and Safety. A crown control plan must be provided.
These gatherings include but are not limited to "medical missions, kasalang-bayan, distribution of food and cash assistance, and the like," the order said. Gatherings of more than 10 persons are prohibited, except when indispensable for work, government or humanitarian purposes.
Religious gatherings are exempted as they may occupy up to 50% of venue capacity, Belmonte said.
Organizers must manage crowds “through the use of marshals, stubs, coupons, and similar strategies,” Belmonte said in her order.
Violation of health protocols will be investigated, with sactions to be imposed if warranted.
Hotel function rooms and similar facilities for purposes of meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitionand other events may operate at 30% of venue capacity. Events for social purposes are only allowed to operate at 20% capacity provided the facility complies with the Safety Seal program.
Event organizers are encouraged to record names and contact details of all attendees for contact-tracing purposes. If the gathering takes place in an events venue such as a function room, meeting hall, mall or building, KyusiPass digital contact tracing should be used as far as possible.
