Masha Midhath   14 October 2021 - 10:24 PM
Philippines vaccination drive.
Philippines vaccination drive.
The Philippines has decided to allow cinemas and gyms to reopen in the capital Manila, after a sharp fall in the daily number of coronavirus infections and increased vaccinations, said an official.

Cinemas and gyms, which have been closed for most of the pandemic, will be allowed to resume limited operations on Saturday for fully vaccinated people, which will help in boosting jobs.

“We must pay attention to job creation at this time,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque told a news conference.

Restrictions have been eased in recent weeks as the government shifts its focus to getting people back to work and easing the economic misery caused by hard lockdowns. The government’s top economic manager also warned last month the next two generations of Filipinos would be paying for the cost of COVID-19.

In the Philippines, nearly 80 percent of the adult population in the capital has been fully vaccinated, compared with just over 30 percent for the entire country, according to official data.