In order to further normalise and get society adjusted to the new norm of social distancing in the Philippines, Secretary Ramon Lopez of the Department of Trade and Industry will recommend a gradual lifting of enhanced community quarantine to the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases.
During the Laging Handa briefing, Secretary Lopez said on Wednesday, April 1, that lifting the community quarantine gradually will aim to help essential businesses and their supply chain to return to their operations.
“What’s important is to bring back economic activities so that people can return to their jobs while we are still observing the new norm,” he said in Filipino.
Secretary Lopez further added that companies must examine their employees who will return to work and ensure that they are not sick and thus contagious to fellow colleagues. Although, Secretary Lopez noted that even businesses have concerns and are cautious about a total lifting of the enhanced community quarantine that hopes to end by mid-April.
Some economic activities have maintained their operations during the Luzon-wide quarantine that began more than two weeks ago on March 17 such as the manufacturing of food, medicine and medical supplies, and hygiene products such as alcohol and disinfectants, export-oriented businesses, supermarkets and groceries, takeout and food delivery services, among others,
However, big events such as concerts and theater performances, or those with large gatherings, will be discouraged even with the lifting of the enhanced community quarantine.
