Malacañang announced Thursday that religious work and religious gatherings are now allowed in places under the general community quarantine (GCQ).
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a virtual briefing that essential work and religious gatherings will no longer be prohibited for GCQ areas provided that “strict social distancing, defined as the strict maintenance of at least two meters distance between and among persons present, and the mandatory wearing of face mask, face shield, or other facial protective equipment is maintained during the entirety of the event.”
The government announced Tuesday the list of industry sectors that are allowed to reopen for areas under GCQ starting tomorrow, May 1.
Sectors allowed during the ECQ and GCQ
- Export companies (with temporary accommodation and shuttle services; Work from home)
- Business Process Outsourcing (with temporary accommodation and shuttle services; Work from home)
- Mining and Quarrying
- Employment Activities (workforce services for essential activities)
- Security and Investigation Activities
- Programming and Investigation Activities
- Rental and Leasing Activities (except entertainment/mass gathering purposes)
- Accommodation (used as quarantine facilities for Overseas Filipino Workers and Overseas Filipino, as well as temporary accommodation for essential industries such as Healthcare Facilities, Banks, BPOs, Exporters, and other frontline service sectors)
- Services to Buildings and Landscape Activities (except landscape care)
- Extraction of Crude Petroleum and Natural Gas
- Gasoline Stations
- Laundry Shops (including self-service)
- Funeral Services
- Power, Energy, Water, IT and Telecommunications Supplies and Facilities, Waste Disposal Services, Technical Services to above utilities
- Electricity, Gas, Steam, and Air Conditioning Supply
- Postal and courier activities
- Water collection, treatment, and supply
- Waste Collection, Treatment and Disposal Activities, except Materials Recovery (junk shop)
- Sewerage (except emptying of septic tanks)
- Veterinary Activities
- Repair and installation of machinery and equipment
- Repair of computers and personal and household goods
- Landscape activities (except landscape care)
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Sectors NOT allowed during ECQ and GCQ
- Sports-related mass gatherings, including but not limited to training, games, tournaments, championships
- Libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural activities
- Gambling and betting activities
- Travel Agency, tour operator, reservation service and related activities
- Activities of membership organization
- Gyms/Fitness studios and sports facilities
- Entertainment-related mass gatherings including but not limited to theaters, cinemas, large concerts, festivals, carnivals, conventions, shows, pubs, and bars
- Business-related mass gathering including but not limited to trade shows, conferences, conventions, workshops, retreats
- Politically-related mass gatherings, including but not limited to election rallies, polling centers, parades, speeches/addresses
As of Wednesday, the country recorded 8,212 cases, 558 deaths, and 1,023 recoveries.