Restaurants, some stores in malls eyed for temporary closure

Fastfood outlets, restaurants, and other businesses outside malls will be allowed to continue their operations, Lopez clarified. (File Photo by Victor Xok/Unsplash)

MANILA – Restaurants and stores inside malls that are not considered providing basic services and necessities will be ordered to close temporarily during the one-month community quarantine in Metro Manila amid the coronavirus outbreak.

“We can now include closure of malls in the definition of areas with mass gathering,” Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez told reporters in a text message Saturday.

It is unclear yet whether this will include restaurants with delivery services.

However, supermarkets, hardware stores, drugstores, health clinics, banks, and other basic services inside the malls will be exempted, Lopez added.

He said employers should make arrangements with their employees regarding their salary during the quarantine period.

Fastfood outlets, restaurants, and other businesses outside malls will be allowed to continue their operations, Lopez clarified.

He added that the government is also looking into providing emergency loans to businesses affected during the quarantine period.

On Saturday, the 17 mayors of Metro Manila “strongly recommended” the issuance of ordinances for the temporary closure of malls and similar establishments to discourage the public from going out of their homes during the community quarantine period ordered by the government from March 15 to April 14.

Under the guidelines issued by the Palace, mass gatherings including movie screenings, concerts, sporting events, entertainment activities, community assemblies, and non-essential work-related gatherings are prohibited.