Restaurants and shops might say goodbye to plastic barriers soon as the Department of Trade and Industry is studying whether to recommend their removal.
New measures to improve ventilation in closed spaces are being studied in place of the plastic barriers in several establishments, Trade Sec. Ramon Lopez said.
“Isa pang kino-consider na pagtanggal whether mag-move tayo sa Alert Level 1 o hindi ay yung mga acrylic barriers. Puwede na tanggalin yan, ipo-propose natin sa IATF,” Lopez said in an interview on dzBB.
Lopez said what's important is for the public to get vaccinated and continue wearing face masks.
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Establishments across the country installed plastic barriers in 2020 to implement physical distancing as the COVID-19 pandemic upended economic activity.
With the decreasing trend of COVID-19 cases, Metro Manila mayors have agreed to recommend the de-escalation of the COVID-19 alert level in the capital region to the lowest Alert Level 1 or the "new normal" to further reopen the economy.
"If you look at the economy, bukas na 'ho...Talagang nag-reopen na po ang economy," Lopez said.
Malacañang on Tuesday said it was studying placing select areas of the country under Alert Level 1 in light of the decreasing number of COVID-19 cases.
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