The government is discouraging large family reunions during the holiday season to prevent a sudden spike in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the country.
According to Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año, big family reunions are considered "mass gatherings" that are currently prohibited by the government pandemic task force.
Any holiday celebration should instead be kept among immediate family members to avoid the spread of the coronavirus infection, Año added.
"Katulad po ng plano na hindi po papayagan ang Christmas party, hindi rin papayagan ang Christmas caroling, wala pong mass gathering. Iyon pong family reunion ay isang considered na mass gathering (Like the plan to disallow Christmas parties, Christmas caroling will be prohibited. There will be no mass gathering. Family reunion is considered a mass gathering)," he said during a meeting with President Duterte and other Cabinet members at the Malago clubhouse Monday night.
"Katulad po ng sabi ni (Health) Secretary (Francisco) Duque (III), immediate family na lang sana ang mag-celebrate ng Christmas together. At kailangan po ang minimum health standard ay ipatutupad (Like what Secretary Duque said, just celebrate Christmas with the immediate family. Minimum health standards must also be implemented)," he said.
These holiday restrictions are among the proposals of local government units in Metro Manila to curb the further spread of the coronavirus in communities during the holidays, according to Año.
"Ngayon pong darating na Pasko, ang ating mga LGUs at lalo na po ang mga NCR mayors ay nagsisipaghanda para sigurado na mabantayan po natin itong COVID (This coming Christmas, our LGUs especially the NCR mayors are preparing to guard against the COVID outbreak)," he said.
Metro Manila mayors had earlier recommended to keep the capital region under the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) until the end of the year. They also backed plans to ban traditional caroling and large holiday parties, limiting any assembly to less than 10 persons.
In the same meeting with the President, Health Secretary Duque appealed anew to the public to take extra health precautions during the Christmas season.
As the country’s quarantine classifications were extended until Dec. 31, the country’s health chief suggested staying at home if possible to celebrate the holiday with their family. He said there should be no room for complacency despite the downtrend in the country's coronavirus cases.
"Mabuting manatili sa bahay at magkaroon lamang ng maliit na salo-salo kasama ang immediate family members upang maiwasang hindi tayo mahawa at ang ating mga kapamilya (It is better to stay at home and have a small gathering with immediate family members to avoid infection)," Duque said.
Duque also assured the public that the government continues to beef up health care facilities in case of a "post-holiday surge" in infections. "Hihingiin namin ang tulong ng lahat ng ating mga national government agencies and local government units upang paalalahanan ang lahat na mag-i-ingat sa darating na Kapaskuhan (We are asking the help of national government agencies and local government units to remind everyone to keep safe this Christmas)," he said.
Metro Manila and seven other places have been placed under GCQ while other parts of the country will stay under the least restrictive modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) for the month of December.
The quarantine levels were announced by the President during his televised address Monday night.
The country has more than 430,000 cases of coronavirus with 8,392 deaths as of November 30.