With the relaxed alert level system comes good news for the Christmas carolers.
After being banned last year, the traditional Christmas caroling will now be allowed in areas under alert level 2 under certain conditions as the number of new coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) cases had declined, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Wednesday, Nov. 10.
DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said that persons must be vaccinated against COVID-19 before conducting caroling indoors, which is subject to the establishment's capacity.
"Under Alert 2, caroling is allowed provided that (minimum public health standard) is strictly followed and subject to the operational capacity of the venue of the caroling: 50 percent and vaccinated individuals only if indoor, and 70 percent if outdoor," Malaya said in an interview on ABS-CBN News.
He pointed out that the carolers must wear face shields “as of now’’ but the policy may change as the Inter-Agency Task Force Against COVID-19 is set to meet on Nov. 11 to decide on the matter in selected areas.
The Metro Manila mayors earlier had strongly pushed for lifting of face shield use except in hospitals and medical facilities with Manila Mayor and presidential hopeful Isko Moreno already implemented the proposal.
Moreno noted that the Palace should 'go to court' for Manila to revoke the no face shield policy
Last year, the traditional practice was banned in a bid to curb the spread of the respiratory disease which has so far killed over 44,000 in the country as of Nov. 8.
On Nov. 5 Metro Manila was placed in the more relaxed alert level 2 until Nov. 21 from the previous stricter alert level 3. (Chito A. Chavez)