Metro Manila casinos likely to reopen from October 15

Authorities have announced that Manila’s current Level 4 restrictions could be downgraded from October 15, which means casinos will be allowed to reopen.

The Philippines.- President Duterte’s spokesperson Harry Roque has said that the capital city of Manila could ease its current Covid-19 countermeasures from October 15.

Although he noted the final decision will be taken by the Inter-Agency Task Force, he stated: “For the first time in many many months, Metro Manila is under moderate risk and that is also a factor to consider in lowering quarantine classification.”

If restrictions are lowered to Level 3, casinos, lottery and betting shops, and other gaming venues would be allowed to reopen at 30 per cent of their venue capacity. Under Level 2, capacity will extend to 50 per cent. Only when the city reaches Level 1 will casinos be able to reopen at full capacity.

In September, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases started to test a “four-level” system under “granular” lockdowns, specifically targeting areas of outbreaks rather than putting the entire province under restrictions.

Metro Manila expects to reach a 92 per cent vaccination rate by December

Health authorities in The Philippines have predicted that the capital city of Manila could have a 92 per cent rate of the population fully vaccinated by December.

According to Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr., Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman, 75 per cent of Manila’s population has been fully vaccinated and the figure could increase to 85 per cent before the end of October.

According to authorities the increase in vaccination rates is mainly due to the arrival of around 100m Covid-19 vaccines during the last month.