The Philippine National Police (PNP) urged the public on Sunday, Oct. 24, to refrain from holding or joining Halloween parties and likewise the "trick or treat" tradition for kids, saying the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is scary enough amid the pandemic situation in the country.
But PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar said the people could do it within the family bubble or within their house in order to ensure the safety of everybody.
“Batid ng inyong Philippine National Police ang mga nakaugaliang tradisyon tuwing nalalapit ang Undas gaya ng mga halloween party at trick or treat para sa mga bata at maaring magkalakas ng loob ang ilan sa atin dahil sa patuloy na pagbaba ng mga kaso ng COVID-19 sa ating bansa (The PNP recognizes the tradition of halloween parties and trick or treat and some people would be encourage to do it wiith the continuous drop of COVID cases)," said Eleazar.
“Kaya pinapayuhan natin ang ating mga kababayan na ipagpaliban muna ito o kaya naman ay gawing limitado sa inyong mga sariling tahanan dahil baka sa halip na trick or treat ay mauwi ito sa trip and treatment sa ospital kapag nahawa ang mga bata lalo pa at wala pa silang bakuna (But we are disocuraging the public to refrain from doing it or they could do it within their house because instead of trick or treat, this may result in trip and treatment to the hospitals if our children are infected especially that they still do not have vaccine,” he stressed.
The Department of Health has advised families to strictly observe health protocols if they plan to conduct Halloween parties and trick or treat which are traditionally being held before Undas.
The DOH also said that celebrations should only be shared with family as inviting people from outside the “family bubble” may still be risky for COVID-19 transmission.
Eleazar also warned establishments to follow the protocols or else their businesses could be ordered close.
This, after a bar in Makati City was raided by local officials after receiving information that health protocols, including the curfew hours, were being disregarded. Police found that the allowed capacity inside the bar was not followed and that it had no permit. More or less 200 individuals were issued with citation tickets due to their violations.
Metro Manila is under Alert Level 3 until October 31. The government said it could further be eased to Alert Level 2 if the number of COVID-19 infections will continue to decrease.
“On the part of the PNP, we will continuously make our presence felt in the communities to ensure that minimum public health safety is observed and eventually lead to further reduction of COVID cases in the country,” Eleazar said.