The Mandaluyong City local government announced on Monday that the management of basketball and Zumba events in the barangay level will be delegated to the respective barangay officials.
Metro Manila was placed under the more relaxed Alert Level 2 quarantine classification last Nov. 5 due to the National Capital Region's (NCR's) high COVID-19 vaccination rate and declining COVID-19 cases.
Mandaluyong City Mayor Menchie Abalos said that while the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases was able to issue guidelines for professional basketball games regulated by the Games and Amusement Board (GAB), the Metro Manila Council (MMC) had to deliberate on basketball games in the barangay level. The consultation with the IATF concluded that basketball games will be allowed as long as the barangay will limit each game for a maximum of two hours.
In addition, minimum public health and safety protocols should still be observed in every game. It added that only fully vaccinated individuals will be allowed to play and a barangay staff should be assigned on site to take the temperature and check the vaccination cards of the participants.
"Anyone who enters a basketball court should still wear a face mask and log everyone going in and out. I suggest we should use our MandaTrack on basketball courts to make contact tracing much easier," Abalos said.
She added that the local government unit (LGU) will explore giving incentives, such as allowing the participants to play without wearing face masks, to vaccinated individuals, especially to children aged 17 and below who wish to play.
"This can help encourage children to get vaccinated. We all know that many children are eager to go out and play now that they are allowed to do outdoor exercises," Abalos said.
Meanwhile, Zumba classes may be held without the wearing of face masks if social distancing of at least two meters between individuals is observed.
However, face masks should be worn again if participants will be conversing with each other after classes.
The mayor said the city government will soon issue a resolution containing the guidelines for the said activities.
Under Alert Level 2, there are no age-based mobility restrictions in Metro Manila.
It also allows for an increased capacity for businesses and activities such as restaurant dine-in, beauty salons and the like, and religious activities, among others.