BY GENALYN D. KABILING
Group zumba and yoga sessions are still not allowed for the meantime as the government encourages fitness enthusiasts to workout online to avoid the coronavirus transmission.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the government still prohibits group workout sessions even though it allowed partial operations of gyms and fitness studios in community quarantine areas.
“Ang gyms and fitness studios po 30% sa GCQ (general community quarantine), 50% sa MGCQ (modified general community quarantine). No group workouts like zumba. Ito po’y nasa isang DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) Memo 2020-52 (Gyms and fitness studios in GCQ are allowed to operate at 30 percent capacity while those in MGC are allowed 50 percent. No group workouts like zumba. These are stated in DTI Memop 20-52),” Roque said during a televised press briefing Tuesday.
“Kung gusto ninyo pong mag-zumba, iyong ginagawa ko po dati noong panahon ng lockdown, sa internet na lang po at sa TV.”
Early this month, the trade department issued a memorandum circular on increasing the operational capacity of certain business establishments and activities in GCQ areas.
The latest government move seeks to provide stability for business and stimulate the economy as well as address joblessness, poverty and hunger incidence in the country, according to the DTI.
The increased operations of businesses have been allowed following a reported improvement in case doubling time as well as decrease in critical care use rates for GCQ places.
Under the DTI memorandum, gyms, fitness studios and sports facilities in GCQ areas are allowed to operate at 30 percent but limited to individual workouts only effective August 1. Group workout sessions composed of two or more persons shall be strictly prohibited
Gyms located in MGCQ areas, on the other hand, are permitted to operate up to 50-percent capacity.
Activities in sports facilities are limited to non-contact sports and other forms of exercise such as walking, jogging, running, biking, golf, swimming, tennis, badminton, equestrian, range shooting, and skateboarding.
Restaurants and cafes in these facilities are allowed at 30 percent venue capacity only with maximum operating hours up to 11 p.m. (Genalyn Kabiling)
