QC to tap citizens in reporting establishments violating minimum health standards

The Quezon City government on Tuesday announced its plan to elicit the cooperation of residents in reporting establishments that violate minimum health standards amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement, Mayor Joy Belmonte said stricter monitoring “is a must” with more people expected to go out amid the gradual opening of the economy and enforcement of more relaxed quarantine guidelines.

“Dahil mas marami nang tao ang lalabas sa kanilang mga tahanan, kailangang mas paigtingin pa natin ang pagbabantay, lalo na sa mga establisimyento na pupuntahan ng karamihan,” she said.

“The key to prevent a spike in cases is to ramp up our surveillance and enforcement efforts, and this is where we need the help of QCitizens because our frontliners can only do so much,” she added.

Belmonte said the city government will add a link on its official website where residents can report violators.

“Kaya kailangan natin ang tulong ng lahat upang maiparating sa amin ang mga hindi sumusunod sa mga itinakdang patakaran upang mapigil ang pagkalat ng COVID-19,” she said.

The city plans to shorten its curfew to 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. with the exemption of essential activities that operate on a 24-hour basis such as market operations, food take-out and delivery services, pharmacies, hospitals, convenience stores and delivery of goods.

Restaurants, hotels and other tourism establishments may also operate until 12 a.m., but orders of alcoholic drinks will be allowed only until 10 p.m. Licensed liquor dealers, meanwhile, are allowed to sell on retail or delivery from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Persons aged 18 to 65 years old will also be allowed to go out, provided they have a company ID, government-issued ID, school ID, authorized person outside residence ID, or barangay ID or certification.

Meanwhile, religious gatherings will be allowed up to 30% of the church’s capacity, while work-related gatherings and other unavoidable gatherings must not exceed 50% of a venue’s capacity. Attendees must also observe minimum health protocols such as the use of face masks, disinfecting of hands and social distancing.

The city recently reported that 90% of its confirmed COVID-19 cases have recovered, while its reproduction number is at 0.67 — close to the World Health Organization’s ideal number of 0.5.

As of Tuesday at 8 a.m., Quezon City had 21,654 COVID-19 cases validated by the Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit and district health offices.

The number of active COVID-19 cases is 1,548.

Total recoveries reached 19,498, while the death toll was 608.

Nationwide, COVID-19 cases rose to 359,169 on Monday, including 6,675 deaths and 310,303 recoveries. —Ma. Angelica Garcia/KG, GMA News