Nightlife goes dark once again as covid cases surge in the Philippines
Following the Omicron threat and an outbreak in the capital’s favourite night haunt, clubs & bars were recently ordered to shut down
Philippine capital Metro Manila, along with other provinces, is facing stricter rules once again as the country sees a sudden spike in covid cases. As of writing, the Department of Health (DOH) has logged over 4,000 cases for two consecutive days, with the positivity rate up by 20.7%.
As the Philippines reverts to tighter protocols, local nightlife is yet again forced into a halt, with clubs, bars and other entertainment centres unable to operate. Until recently, its government lifted curfew and has allowed nightlife to restart last November, with revellers experiencing a sliver of normalcy. However, with Omicron variant likely being the cause of the current surge, and the recent outbreak in Poblacion — one of the metro’s popular nightspots — it’s looking like clubs and bars are taking the back seat once more.
Last December 23, a returning Filipina named Gwyneth Chua skipped quarantine to attend a party in Kampai. She later tested positive, along with dozens who were in contact with her on the same night. She reportedly showed her proof of vaccination at the door and were with friends who had a reservation.
In an official statement, Kampai said: “It is unfortunate that this transpired in our premises, and has resulted in compromising the health and safety of our customers and our staff. A number of our patrons and staff contracted the virus and are now in quarantine because of the situation.”
The woman in question is now under investigation, along with Berjaya Hotel, the supposed quarantine facility she was designated in. "We are disappointed and share the same sentiments of most people about the decisions and actions taken by this individual, who has now compromised the health and well-being of our customers and staff,” Kampai shares.
Since the incident, countless spaces in the same area have decided to close down. Come New Year’s eve, the government announced a Level 3 lockdown effective January 3 until January 15, wherein only select establishments are allowed to operate at limited capacity. However, the local Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases will reassess these restrictions as local vaccination coverage increases.
[Images via Business World, My Wonderful Trips, Philippine Tatler]
