Quezon City mayor orders crackdown on videoke, parties driving COVID-19 surge

Videoke sessions and birthday parties, along with other social gatherings, have been identified as key drivers of the recent increase in COVID-19 cases within Quezon City.

These gatherings occurred despite the city being under general community quarantine (GCQ) and some areas being under special concern lockdown (SCL), which imposes stricter stay-at-home measures.

Mayor Joy Belmonte highlighted that violations included drinking sessions, boodle fights, wakes exceeding participant and duration limits, and even basketball and volleyball games.

Under GCQ, only outdoor non-contact sports are permitted, making the reported activities clear breaches of health and safety protocols.

The city's Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit is actively tracing the transmission chains linked to these unauthorized social events.

Belmonte has ordered barangay heads to apprehend quarantine violators, conduct foot patrols, enforce curfew hours, and strictly regulate alcohol sales.

She also warned barangay officials that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is monitoring their cooperation, with failure to comply potentially leading to administrative cases.