September 14 ------ The government’s pandemic task force has finally issued the guidelines on the pilot implementation of the Alert Levels System for coronavirus (COVID-19) response in Metro Manila in an attempt to curb the spread of the virus and its variants. Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque made the statement two days before Metro Manila’s shift to the new system on September 16. In a statement Monday evening, September 13, Roque said the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases “proactively advocates” the principles of 3Cs (closed, crowded, and close contact) Strategy that will be applied in the region.
“We should strive for total health and this can only be realized by carefully balancing our COVID-19 response by considering both the health of our people and the economic health of the nation, which this policy shift is all about,” he said. Here’s what you need to know about the new Alert Levels System based on the guidelines issued by the IATF on September 13, 2021.
5 Alert Levels
There will be five alert levels under the new system:
Alert Level 1: Areas where case transmission is low and decreasing, total bed utilization rate, and intensive care unit utilization rate is low.
Alert Level 2: Areas where case transmission is low and decreasing, healthcare utilization is low, or case counts are low but increasing, or case counts are low and decreasing but total bed utilization rate and intensive care unit utilization rate is increasing.
Alert Level 3: Areas where case counts are high and/or increasing, with total bed utilization rate and intensive care unit utilization rate at increasing utilization.
Alert Level 4: Areas where case counts are high and/or increasing, with total bed utilization rate and intensive care unit utilization rate at high utilization.
Alert Level 5: Areas where case counts are alarming, with total bed utilization rate and intensive care unit utilization rate at critical utilization.
General guidelines
The Department of Health (DOH) shall identify the Alert Level of the pilot area. This area shall follow the protocols consistent with the declared Alert Level. For the duration of the pilot implementation, classification of the pilot area shall be done weekly, unless otherwise specified. Regardless of the vaccination status or even a negative COVID-19 test result, close contacts of probable and confirmed COVID-19 cases shall undergo a 14-day quarantine period. The authority to impose granular lockdowns shall be given to the city and municipal mayors. These lockdowns shall last for a period of 14 days.
Only the following shall be allowed to move within, to, and from areas under granular lockdown:
Health and allied health workers
Uniformed personnel
Outbound overseas Filipino workers (OFWs)
OFWs returning to their respective residences after completing facility-based quarantine
Those seeking immediate medical attention
Those who are living in places under granular lockdown will be allowed to enter the said area but will not be allowed to leave until the lockdown is lifted. For and essential items intended for delivery in areas under granular lockdown will be allowed, provided that they can only be unloaded at border collection points designated by the LGU. Households within areas under granular lockdown shall be provided assistance by their respective LGUs and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Level 5 Guidelines
Based on the new IATF guidelines, areas placed under the Alert Level 5 shall follow the guidelines applicable to Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).
Level 4 Guidelines
Those below the age of 18 and over the age of 65, those with comorbidities, and pregnant women will not be allowed to leave their homes unless for obtaining goods and services, or for work. Those not mentioned are allowed to undertake intrazonal and interzonal travel subject to regulations of the LGUs of their destinations. Individual outdoor exercises will be allowed for all ages but shall be limited within their barangay. Minimum public health standards must be followed at all times.
The following establishments and activities are not allowed to operate under Alert Level 4:
Indoor visitor or tourist attractions, libraries, archives, museums, galleries, and cultural shows and exhibits
Indoor venues for meetings, incentives, conferences, events (MICE)
Indoor entertainment venues such as cinemas, and venues with live performers
Outdoor and indoor amusement parks or theme parks and kid amusement industries
Indoor recreational venues such as internet cafes, billiard halls, amusement arcades, bowling alleys, and similar venues
Indoor limited face to face or in-person classes, examinations, and other education-related activities at all levels
Casinos, horse racing, cockfighting and operation of cockpits, lottery and betting shops, and other gaming establishments
Social events such as parties, weddings, family reunions, processions, and motorcades, among others
Indoor sports courts or venues, fitness studios, gyms, spas, or other indoor leisure centers or facilities, and swimming pools
All contact sports, except those conducted under a bubble-type setup
Personal care services such as the following:
Medical aesthetic clinics
Cosmetic or derma clinics
Make-up salons
Reflexology
Aesthetics
Wellness
Holistic centers
Acupuncture and electrocautery establishments
Massage therapy including sports therapy establishments
Tanning services
Body piercings
Tattooing
Specialized markets of the Department of Tourism (DOT) such as staycations
Meanwhile, outdoor or al fresco dine-in services in restaurants and eateries shall be allowed at a maximum of 30 percent regardless of vaccination status. Indoor dine-in services may be allowed at up to 10 percent seating capacity but will only cater to fully vaccinated individuals. All workers of these establishments must also be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Personal care services limited to barbershops, hair spas, nail spas, and beauty salons shall be allowed at a maximum of 30 percent seating capacity if these services are conducted outdoors regardless of vaccination status.
Personal care establishments are allowed to operate at a limited 10 percent indoor seating capacity but may only cater to fully vaccinated individuals. Workers must also be fully vaccinated. Religious gatherings are allowed but limited to 30 percent venue capacity if conducted outdoors and regardless of vaccination status. However, these outdoor activities are limited to religious worship and/or service. Mobile religious gatherings like processions are prohibited. Indoor religious activities are allowed at a limited 10 percent capacity but may only accommodate fully vaccinated individuals. Pastors, priests, rabbis, imams, or other religious ministers and assistants must all be fully vaccinated.
Gatherings for necrological services, wakes, inurnment, funerals for those who died of causes other than COVID-19 shall be allowed but limited to immediate family members only. Except those located in areas covered by granular lockdowns, all other establishments, or activities not otherwise specified are allowed to operate or be undertaken at full on-site or venue/seating capacity. Government agencies and instrumentalities will be limited to at least 20 percent on-site capacity while applying work-from-home and other flexible work arrangements.
Level 3 Guidelines
Under Alert Level 3, the movement, including intrazonal and interzonal travel, of people will be allowed except for reasonable restrictions based on age and comorbidities as determined by LGUs. However, these restrictions should not be stricter than those prescribed under Alert Level 4. Individual outdoor exercises shall be allowed for all ages regardless of comorbidities or vaccination status.
Except for those located in areas under granular lockdown, the following establishments, or activities, shall be allowed at a maximum of 30 percent venue capacity:
Indoor visitor or tourist attractions, libraries, archives, museums, galleries, and cultural shows and exhibits
Indoor venues for meetings, incentives, conferences, events (MICE)
Indoor recreational venues such as internet cafes, billiard halls, amusement arcades, bowling alleys, and similar venues
Indoor limited face to face or in-person classes, examinations approved by the IATF
Casinos, horse racing, cockfighting and operation of cockpits, lottery and betting shops, and other gaming establishments
In-person religious gatherings
Gathering for necrological services, wakes, inurnment, and funerals for those who died of causes other than COVID-19
Social events such as parties, weddings, family reunions, processions, and motorcades, among others
Indoor dine-in services and food preparation establishments
Indoor sports courts or venues, fitness studios, gyms, spas, or other indoor leisure centers or facilities, and swimming pools
Personal care services such as the following including salons, parlors, spas, and aesthetic clinics, among others
The said establishment and activities can operate or be undertaken at an additional 10 percent if they are awarded the Safety Seal Certifications.
The operations of the following remain to be prohibited under Alert Level 3:
Indoor entertainment venues such as cinemas and venues with live performers
Outdoor and indoor amusement parks or theme parks and kid amusement industries
Except those located in areas covered by granular lockdowns, all other establishments, or activities not otherwise specified are allowed to operate or be undertaken at full on-site or venue/seating capacity. However, they are still encouraged to adopt work-from-home or flexible work arrangements.
Government agencies and instrumentalities will be limited to at least 30 percent on-site capacity while applying work-from-home and other flexible work arrangements.
Level 2 Guidelines
The movement, including intrazonal and interzonal travel, of people under Alert Level 2 will be allowed except for reasonable restrictions based on age and comorbidities as determined by LGUs. However, these restrictions should not be stricter than those prescribed under Alert Level 4. Individual outdoor exercises shall be allowed for all ages regardless of comorbidities or vaccination status.
Except for those located in areas under granular lockdown, the following establishments, or activities, shall be allowed at a maximum of 50 percent venue capacity:
Indoor visitor or tourist attractions, libraries, archives, museums, galleries, and cultural shows and exhibits
Indoor venues for meetings, incentives, conferences, events (MICE)
Indoor entertainment venues such as cinemas and venues with live performers
Amusement parks, theme parks, kid amusement industries
Indoor recreational venues such as internet cafes, billiard halls, amusement arcades, bowling alleys, and similar venues
Indoor limited face to face or in-person classes, examinations, and other education-related activities at all levels
Casinos, horse racing, cockfighting and operation of cockpits, lottery and betting shops, and other gaming establishments
In-person religious gatherings
Gathering for necrological services, wakes, inurnment, and funerals for those who died of causes other than COVID-19
Social events such as parties, weddings, family reunions, processions, and motorcades, among others
Indoor dine-in services and food preparation establishments
Indoor sports courts or venues, fitness studios, gyms, spas, or other indoor leisure centers or facilities, and swimming pools
Personal care services such as the following including salons, parlors, spas, and aesthetic clinics, among others
The said establishment and activities can operate or be undertaken at an additional 10 percent if they are awarded the Safety Seal Certifications.
All other establishments or activities not otherwise specified, except those located in areas covered by granular lockdowns, are allowed to operate or be undertaken at full on-site or venue/seating capacity. However, they are still encouraged to adopt work-from-home or flexible work arrangements. Government agencies and instrumentalities will be limited to at least 50 percent on-site capacity while applying work-from-home and other flexible work arrangements.
Level 1 Guidelines
Movement of persons shall be allowed except for reasonable restrictions on activities and spaces that are closed, crowded, or enable close contact, as may be identified by the LGUs. Except for those located in areas under granular lockdowns, all establishments, persons, or activities, are allowed to operate, work, or be undertaken at full on-site or venue/seating capacity provided it is consistent with minimum public health standards.
Source: mb.com.ph