Packed Resort In The Philippines Shows People Violating Social Distancing Measures

• Caloocan City’s Gubat Sa Ciudad Resort has gone viral after photos circulated on social media, showing a huge crowd packing the place.
• Apparently, the area is under strict lockdown and resorts are not permitted to operate.
• Investigations are currently ongoing and the resort has been closed down by local officials.

A resort in the Philippines has sparked outrage among netizens after several photos went viral on social media showing numerous people enjoying a swim in a public pool despite the Covid-19 lockdowns. Located in Barangay 171, Caloocan City, pictures showed how the Gubat Sa Ciudad Resort continued to accommodate customers despite local restrictions prohibiting operations.

Local media source The Philippine Star posted the photos online last Sunday, May 9, showing an estimated 300 to 500 guests – including children – gathered in the resort. Obviously, the crowd also did not observe social distancing measures.

Currently, the country’s coronavirus protocols only allows resorts to open in areas that are under GCQ (general community quarantine) or MGCQ (modified general community quarantine). Being part of Metro Manila and the ‘NCR Plus’ bubble, Caloocan remains in the stricter MECQ (modified enhanced community quarantine) until May 14.

Following the incident, Caloocan Mayor Oscar Malapitan ordered the closure of the resort. They will also be sued and their license to operate will be immediately revoked. An investigation is currently ongoing and the city mayor has said barangay officials would likewise be probed. Swab testing and contact tracing will also be done for those who visited the resort.

Meanwhile, netizens couldn’t help but express their dismay over the viral photos.

“The ignorance about death is insane,” a Facebook commenter wrote. “These people and the resorts who allow this should be held with huge fines.”

“If you don’t listen, you will be like India,” added another.

So far, the management of the resort has not issued a statement about the incident.