DAVAO CITY – Holiday revelers will celebrate Christmas and New Year without alcoholic beverages as the local government is not inclined on lifting the 24/7 liquor ban just yet.
Dr. Michelle Schlosser, spokesperson for Davao City COVID-19 Task Force, during "COVID-19 Alert" over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR 87.5) on Wednesday, told Dabawenyos that the local government is not discussing to remove the prohibition on the sale of liquors, which has been extended until end of this year by virtue of Executive Order 37 issued last August 2.
Section 1 provides that the liquor ban applies in all public places. The order likewise extended the implementation of 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew until end of this year.
“Inom na lang sa ta og kape (Let’s just drink coffee for now),” she said.
The liquor ban has been implemented since November 2 while curfew since November 20, 2020, to put the transmission of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) under control.
Last July 19, Duterte ordered the police to intensify operations against individuals selling intoxicating beverages in communities after the local government received reports that alcoholic drinks are being sold at a much higher price amid the ban.
However, Schlosser acknowledged the possibility that some quarantine restrictions may be eased as soon as the city will achieve herd immunity and manage to bring down the cases. The city targets to vaccinate around 1.2 million people to achieve herd immunity.
As of October 6, the City Government of Davao reported 770,925 individuals who received the first dose and 646,248 for the second dose or 53.85 percent of the target herd immunity.
“If we can achieve herd immunity, definitely there will be changes in the health protocols. Our cases should be low. So, if we reach the point when herd immunity is achieved and our positive rate is low, there is a bigger chance that we can have a ‘Merry Christmas’ but, as of the moment, we cannot promise the public anything,” she said.
As of October 13, DOH-Davao recorded 170 new cases in the city, bringing total cases to 51,974 cases with 4,639 active, 45,709 recoveries, and 1,626 deaths.