QC imposes liquor ban, temporary closures to contain COVID-19 spread

Quezon City will implement a city-wide liquor ban and a temporary closure of selected establishments starting Monday, March 15 until March 31 due to the recent increase in COVID-19 cases in the capital region.

“The drastic increase of cases is very alarming. We want to stop the transmission as early as now so that we no longer have to implement another nationwide lockdown,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said in a Sunday statement.

Belmonte said all retail sales of alcoholic beverages were suspended for two weeks.

Meanwhile, she said the city government would also close all gyms, spas, and internet cafes following a “serious outbreak in one gym.”

She also advised barangays to once again issue quarantine passes to their residents to limit movement.

“However, a barangay may not close down any establishment without the approval of the city government,” Belmonte added.

Further, returning overseas Filipinos staying in hotels and other accommodations in the city organized by the national government or private entities “must report to the Office of the City Administrator for documentation and monitoring, and for guidance on health, security, and logistics protocols.”

“All OFs are required to complete the mandatory quarantine period of at least 14 days regardless of the RT-PCR test result,” Belmonte emphasized.

“All member offices of the city’s law and order cluster, regulatory departments, the Barangays, and the QCPD and its police stations shall continue enforcing the protocols contained in these guidelines,” she added.

Last week, the Metro Manila Council agreed to implement uniform curfew hours in Metro Manila starting Monday, March 15.

The curfew hours would be from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. and would last for two weeks.

On Sunday, the country recorded 4,899 new COVID-19 infections bringing the total tally to 621,498.

Earlier, the OCTA Research group said daily new cases of COVID-19 in the country may reach 7,000 by the end of March.  — DVM, GMA News