Doctors group urges mayors to allow restos to use sidewalks, open spaces amid pandemic
November 30, 2020 3:53pm
Doctors from the Healthcare Professionals Alliance Against COVID-19 (HPAAC) urged mayors to allow restaurants to make use of sidewalks and open-air spaces in their operations amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a virtual press briefing on Monday, Dr. Antonio Dans of the Philippine Society of General Internal Medicine made the recommendation to help revive the economy and provide a safe environment to the public during the Christmas season.
He said open air activities have better ventilation and reduce the risk of transmission.
“Napakaganda ho ng open air o outdoors. Kung mayroon kayong gagawin, mas maganda kung outdoors. Kunwari, imbis na kakain kayo sa restaurant na indoor, tangkilikin natin ‘yong mga outdoor restaurants, ‘yong mga may upuan sa labas,” Dans said.
“Manawagan tayo sa mga mayor na sana payagan ang mga restaurant na mag-open sa mga sidewalk para mayroon naman tayong kakainan,” he added.
Dans said HPAAC already coordinated with some mayors regarding their recommendation to “pedestrianize” the streets.
“May mga naka-meet kaming mayor kaya lang marami pang natatakot eh… Let’s go outdoors but it takes some political will to pedestrianize the streets,” he said.
“Sulatan natin ang mga mayor natin tapos ‘yon namang mga restaurant na mayroon namang porch, pakiusapan natin na puwede bang buksan niyo na ‘yan at ‘yon ang tangkilikin natin para we can convince them to change their practices and improve their delivery of services,” he added.
According to Dans, for every 100 individuals outside, 4% are infected with COVID-19.
“Sa isang pag-aaral na ginawa namin sa isang kompanya dito sa Pilipinas, natuklasan namin na sa kada 100 tao diyan sa lansangan sa labas, 4% ang may COVID na either walang nararamdaman o minimal ang symptoms kaya lumilibot pa rin,” he said.
Moreover, Dans said the public should always observe minimum health protocols whenever going out.
He said physical distancing, wearing of face masks and shields, and shortening the duration of encounters with people can prevent the further spread of the virus.
Earlier, the University of the Philippines OCTA Research team said COVID-19 cases may reach up to 500,000 by the end of the year.
UP OCTA said the total number of infections could hit between 470,000 and 500,000 (with a mean of 485,000 cases) by December 31. The country reported 429,864 cases, including 8,373 deaths as of November 29.
With this, the group appealed to the public to avoid not just crowded and enclosed areas but also to refrain from joining or organizing social gatherings this Christmas season.—AOL, GMA News
SOURCE: https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/766198/doctors-group-urges-mayors-to-allow-restos-to-use-sidewalks-open-spaces-amid-pandemic/story/?just_in
