Malacañang on Friday said karaoke singers, in general, should wear face masks to prevent the spread of Covid-19 as Metro Manila reverted to Alert Level 2, which allows karaoke bars to operate.
“Sa akin po, mag-iingat pa rin ako, kung puwede namang kumanta nang naka-face mask e kumanta na po kayo nang naka-face mask kasi bamagat nais nating mabuhay muli ang mga industriya gaya ng karaoke, ayaw naman nating maging super spreader events iyan,” Palace spokesman Harry Roque said in a virtual presser.
Venues with live voice or wind-instrument performers and audiences, including karaoke bars, clubs, concert halls, and theaters, are allowed to operate at a maximum of 50 percent indoor venue capacity for fully vaccinated individuals, and 70 percent outdoor venue capacity provided that the establishment’s workers are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
“Kung pupuwede po, kumanta kayo nang naka-face mask pero hindi naman po requirement siguro iyan kung mayroong espasyo ‘no between doon sa kakanta at doon sa mga ibang kasama; pero mas mabuti po talaga mag-face mask habang kumakanta,” Roque said.
Roque himself caused controversy for singing karaoke last year.
As the country was grappling with the effects of tight Covid-19 lockdowns and typhoon “Ulysses” that flooded parts of Luzon, left dozens of people dead and rendered thousands homeless in May 2020, Roque was documented singing karaoke in Baguio sans face mask and face shield.
According to the World Health Organization, the coronavirus can spread from an infected person’s mouth or nose in small liquid particles when they cough, sneeze, speak, sing or breathe heavily. John Ezekiel J. Hirro