Hotel operations to be limited under Luzon-wide quarantine

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases announced Tuesday that hotel operations will be limited under the enhanced community quarantine of Luzon.

At a press briefing in Malacañang, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said only hotels accommodating the following guests will be permitted to remain open:

• Guests with existing booking accommodations for foreigners as of March 17
• Guests who have existing long-term leases
• Employees from establishments exempted under the March 16 memorandum of the Office of the Executive Secretary

“No new booking accommodations shall be permitted... Hotel operations shall be limited to the provision of basic lodging to guests,” the new guidelines read.

Aside from hotels, a number of other establishments providing basic necessities were allowed by the government to remain open during the quarantine period.

The entire Luzon is under quarantine from Tuesday, March 17, until April 13 as part of government efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 in the country.

The Philippines has 187 cases of COVID-19 and 14 deaths due to the disease as of Tuesday. -- BAP, GMA News