Dos and don’ts during ECQ, MECQ and GCQ

FROM May 16 to May 31, Metro Manila, Cebu City and Laguna province will shift to a modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) while eight regions will go into general community quarantine (GCQ).

Eight other regions, which have low risk of novel coronavirus infection, will graduate from the community quarantine.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said MECQ is still ECQ, except that some industries will be allowed to operate at a limited capacity.

In GCQ areas, restrictions will be further relaxed but Roque cautioned that these areas are still under a community quarantine.

Here are the dos and don’ts of each kind of community quarantine.

Enhanced Community Quarantine

• Everyone should stay at home except for persons authorized outside residence i.e. health workers, workers in industries allowed to operate
• Not allowed to exercise outside residence
• Any kind of gatherings are not allowed
• No public transport and domestic flights are allowed; international flights are limited
• Companies allowed to continue operations in limited capacity should provide shuttle for its workers
• Classes are suspended; School premises are closed
• For government offices: Skeletal workforce may be on site while others will be on work from home status
• Public and private construction projects are not allowed
• Manufacturing of alcoholic beverages, electrical machinery, wood products (furniture), non-metallic products, textile/ wearing apparels, tobacco products, paper, rubber and plastic products, electrical equipment, transport and motor vehicle equipment is prohibited
• Real estate activities and industries involving cement steel is allowed only with 50 percent workforce
• Industries involving mining and quarrying, electronic commerce companies, postal courier and delivery services, export oriented companies is allowed
• Repair of computers and personal and household goods are allowed
• Housing service activities are allowed
• Special purpose accommodation for healthcare workers, Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW), worker in permitted sectors, and non-OFWs in hotels are allowed with mandated quarantine
• Veterinary clinics are partially open
• Advertising and market research, computer programming, publishing and printing activities, film, music and TV production, wholesale, retail trade and repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles and bicycle including parts and components are not allowed
• Employment activities i.e. recruitment and placement for permitted sectors are allowed
• Malls and commercial centers, barber shops and salons, hardware stores, clothing and accessories, mall-based- government frontline services, bookstores and school and office supplies stores, baby care supplies store, pet food and pet care supply stores, IT, communications and electronic equipment stores, flower, jewelry, novelty, antique and perfume shops; toy store are not allowed to operate
• Gym/ fitness studio and sports facilities; entertainment industries; kids amusement industries; libraries, archives, museums and cultural centers; tourist destinations; travel agencies, tour operators, reservation services and other related activities; personal care service i.e. massage parlors, sauna, facial care and waxing are not allowed to operate

• Everyone should stay at home except for persons authorized outside residence ie. health workers, workers in industries allowed to operate
• Limited outdoor exercise is allowed such as walking, jogging and biking providing safety protocols such as wearing of masks and social distancing is being observed
• Gathering of maximum of 5 persons is allowed
• No public transport and domestic flights are allowed; international flights are limited
• Companies allowed to continue operations in limited capacity should provide shuttle for its workers
• Controlled inbound travel for OFWs and returning Filipinos
• Use of Bicycle, Motorcycle and E-scooters are allowed but back-riding is no allowed
• No inter-island travel
• Classes are suspended. School premises are closed,
• For government offices: Skeletal workforce may be on site while others will be on work from home status
• Private and Public construction projects are allowed but only with 50 percent work force

• workers are within 21 to 59 years old without pre-existing conditions
• Workers were tested before starting (employers should shoulder expenses)
• Workers should be fetched by a private shuttle and must be housed in barracks in the construction site for the entire project duration
• Employers should secure quarantine passes for onsite employees

• Social distancing is strictly observed including inside barracks
• Daily disinfection of workplace and barracks is required
• Workers returning from outside should undergo mandatory quarantine
• Deliveries and disposal should be handled by separate team
• Workers are using Personal Protective Equipment
• Safety Officer are on site to ensure compliance with minimum health requirements

• Manufacturing of alcoholic beverages, electrical machinery, wood products (furniture), non-metallic products, textile/ wearing apparels, tobacco products, paper, rubber and plastic products, electrical equipment, transport and motor vehicle equipment with 50 percent workforce
• Industries involving cement steel, mining and quarrying, electronic commerce companies, postal courier and delivery services, export oriented companies is allowed
• Real estate activities is allowed only with 50 percent workforce
• Repair of computers and personal and household goods are allowed
• Housing service activities are allowed
• Office administrative and office support are allowed but only 50 percent of workforce
• Special purpose accommodation for healthcare workers, Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW), worker in permitted sectors, and non-OFWs in hotels are allowed with mandated quarantine
• Veterinary clinics are partially open
• Advertising and market research, computer programming, publishing and printing activities, film, music and TV production, wholesale, retail trade and repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles and bicycle including parts and components are allowed in limited capacity
• Malls and commercial centers, hardware stores, clothing and accessories, mall-based- government frontline services, bookstores and school and office supplies stores, baby care supplies store, pet food and pet care supply stores, IT, communications and electronic equipment stores, flower, jewelry, novelty, antique and perfume shops; toy store are allowed to operate with 50 percent workforce
• barber shops and salons are not allowed to operate
• Gym/ fitness studio and sports facilities; entertainment industries; kids amusement industries; libraries, archives, museums and cultural centers; tourist destinations; travel agencies, tour operators, reservation services and other related activities; personal care service i.e. massage parlors, sauna, facial care and waxing are not allowed to operate

• Elderly and persons below 21 years old who may serve as transmitters are not allowed to go out
• Limited Contact Sports is allowed such as golf and tennis
• Gathering of maximum of 10 persons is allowed
• Public transport may resume provided that strict social distancing is being observed (i.e. rail transit, bus, jeepney, taxi, TNVS, tricycle)
• Use of bicycle, motorcycle and E-scooters for transportation are allowed
• Traveling from one place under GCQ to another place under GCQ is allowed provided that safety protocols are observed
• Schools may activate skeletal workforce limited for the process of requirements from students and for preparation of graduation and upcoming school opening
• Alternative work arrangements for government employees; possible 4-day work week
• Private and Public construction projects are allowed to resume provided that mandated safety measures are observed
• Manufacturing of alcoholic beverages, electrical machinery, wood products (furniture), non-metallic products, textile/ wearing apparels, tobacco products, paper, rubber and plastic products, electrical equipment, transport and motor vehicle equipment are allowed to resume
• Industries involving cement steel, mining and quarrying, electronic commerce companies, postal courier and delivery services, export oriented companies and real estate activities is allowed
• Repair of computers and personal and household goods are allowed
• Housing service activities are allowed
• Office administrative and office support are allowed
• Special purpose accommodation for healthcare workers, Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW), worker in permitted sectors, and non-OFWs in hotels are allowed with mandated quarantine
• Veterinary clinics are allowed to operate
• Advertising and market research, computer programming, publishing and printing activities, film, music and TV production, wholesale, retail trade and repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles and bicycle including parts and components, rental and leasing and Employment activities i.e. recruitment and placement for permitted sectors are allowed
• barber shops and salons are not allowed to operate
• Malls and commercial centers, hardware stores, clothing and accessories, mall-based- government frontline services, bookstores and school and office supplies stores, baby care supplies store, pet food and pet care supply stores, IT, communications and electronic equipment stores, flower, jewelry, novelty, antique and perfume shops; toy store are allowed to operate with 50 percent workforce
• Prohibition in dining in at restaurants still under review
• Gym/ fitness studio and sports facilities; entertainment industries; kids amusement industries; libraries, archives, museums and cultural centers; tourist destinations; travel agencies, tour operators, reservation services and other related activities; personal care service i.e. massage parlors, sauna, facial care and waxing should remain closed. (SunStar Philippines)