MANILA – The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF) has given the green light for the resumption of non-contact sporting activities in areas under a general community quarantine (GCQ) due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
In the IATF Resolution 38 passed on Friday and was made public on Saturday, athletes and enthusiasts of running, biking, golf, swimming, tennis, badminton, equestrian and skateboarding among others in GCQ regions can now play the sports they love again "provided that the minimum public health standards such as the wearing of masks and maintenance of physical distancing protocols and no sharing of equipment when applicable are observed."
The resolution also stated that facilities which cater to the said sports can reopen but they will be "limited to basic operation."
The IATF earlier allowed walking, jogging, and biking activities in areas under a modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).
Meanwhile, sporting events can resume in areas that are set to be placed under a modified GCQ (MGCQ).
Such events, alongside other mass gatherings, can push through during the MGCQ period, although a 50 percent venue capacity limit has been placed as well.
Only Metro Manila, Laguna, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Zambales (all under MECQ), and the cities of Cebu and Mandaue (both still under ECQ) are not placed under GCQ, although that could change by the end of the month depending on what they will recommend to the IATF relative to their situation in flattening the Covid-19 curve. (PNA)
