Alert level system expanded to cover areas outside NCR

MANILA. A woman rides an escalator adorned with Christmas lights at the Eastwood mall in Quezon City, Philippines as government eases restrictions after a decline in coronavirus cases in the country on Thursday, October 14, 2021. (AP)
MANILA. A woman rides an escalator adorned with Christmas lights at the Eastwood mall in Quezon City, Philippines as government eases restrictions after a decline in coronavirus cases in the country on Thursday, October 14, 2021. (AP)

THE Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases has expanded the alert level system to cover areas outside Metro Manila starting Wednesday, October 20, until end of the month.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press briefing that starting October 20, Negros Oriental and Davao Occidental will be under the strictest Alert Level 4.

All contact sports (indoor and outdoor), cinemas and movie houses, casinos, horse racing, cockfighting and operation of cockpits, lottery and betting shops and other gaming establishments are not allowed under Alert Level 4.

Areas under Alert Level 3 are Cavite, Laguna and Rizal in Calabarzon; Siquijor in Central Visayas; and Davao City and Davao del Norte in Davao Region.

Under Alert Level 2 are Batangas, Quezon Province, Lucena City, Bohol, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Cebu Province, Davao de Oro, Davao del Sur and Davao Oriental.

For Alert Level 1, Roque said the metrics for placing provinces, highly urbanized cities and independent component cities under this level were amended to include the full vaccination of at least 70 percent of the local government units' A2, A3 and eligible population.

Roque clarified that the expansion outside the National Capital Region (NCR) is still limited to the areas mentioned above, adding that it is still part of the pilot study being implemented by the government.

But he said the lowering of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases and the improvement of the country's healthcare utilization rate have contributed to the decision to expand the system outside NCR.

"Kung mapapansin nyo po, ilang rehiyon pa lamang ang na-include dito sa pilot study. Pero sabihin na po natin na yung pagbaba po ng mga kaso at saka iyong pag improve ng ating healthcare utilization rate ay parang may kinalaman po doon sa alert level system na inadopt natin sa Metro Manila, dahilan para palawagin pa natin yong ating pilot implementation," Roque said.

(If you noticed, only few areas have been included in the pilot study, but we could say that lowering of Covid-19 cases and improvement of our healthcare utilization rate have something to do with the alert level system adopted in Metro Manila, reason for the expansion of the pilot implementation.)

Below are the guidelines under the alert level system.

DINE-IN SERVICES

* Alert Level 4: 10 percent (indoor), 30 percent (outdoor)

* Alert Level 3: 30 percent (indoor), 50 percent (outdoor)

* Alert Level 2: 50 percent (indoor), 70 percent (outdoor)

* Alert Level 1: 100 percent

TAKE-OUT AND DELIVERY: 100 percent

FILM, MUSIC, TV PRODUCTION

* Alert Level 4: 10 percent (indoor), 30 percent (outdoor)

* Alert Level 3: 30 percent (indoor), 50 percent (outdoor)

* Alert Level 2: 50 percent (indoor), 70 percent (outdoor)

* Alert Level 1: 100 percent

SPECIALTY EXAMS AUTHORIZED BY IATF

* Alert Level 4: 10 percent

* Alert Level 3: 30 percent

* Alert Level 2: 50 percent

* Alert Level 1: 100 percent

FITNESS, STUDIOS, GYMS, VENUES FOR NON-CONTACT SPORTS

* Alert Level 4: 10 percent

* Alert Level 3: 30 percent

* Alert Level 2: 50 percent

* Alert Level 1: 100 percent

No group activities must be conducted and clients and workers must wear face mask at all times.

CONTACT SPORTS

* Alert Level 4 and 3: Not allowed

* Alert Level 2: 50 percent (indoor), 70 percent (outdoor)

* Alert Level 1: 100 percent

VENUES FOR MEETINGS, EXHIBITIONS

* Alert Level 4: 10 percent (indoor, with Safety Seal certification), 30 percent (outdoor)

* Alert Level 3: 30 percent (indoor), 50 percent (outdoor)

* Alert Level 2: 50 percent (indoor), 70 percent (outdoor)

* Alert Level 1: 100 percent

SOCIAL EVENTS, PARTIES, WEDDING RECEPTIONS

* Alert Level 4: 10 percent (indoor, with Safety Seal certification), 30 percent (outdoor)

* Alert Level 3: 30 percent (indoor), 50 percent (outdoor)

* Alert Level 2: 50 percent (indoor), 70 percent (outdoor)

* Alert Level 1: 100 percent

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

* Alert Level 4: 10 percent (indoor, with Safety Seal), 30 percent (outdoor)

* Alert Level 3: 30 percent (indoor), 50 percent (outdoor)

* Alert Level 2: 50 percent (indoor), 70 percent (outdoor)

* Alert Level 1: 100 percent

AMUSEMENT AND THEME PARKS

* Alert Level 4: 10 percent (indoor, with Safety Seal), outdoor (30 percent)

* Alert Level 3: 30 percent (indoor), 50 percent (outdoor)

* Alert Level 2: 50 percent (indoor), 70 percent (outdoor)

* Alert Level 1: 100 percent

RECREATIONAL VENUES SUCH AS INTERNET CAFES, BILLIARD HALLS, BOWLING ALLEYS, SKATING RINKS, ARCHERY HALLS, SWIMMING POOLS AND SIMILAR VENUES

* Alert Level 4: 10 percent (indoor, with Safety Seal), 30 percent (outdoor)

* Alert Level 3: 30 percent (indoor), 50 percent (outdoor)

* Alert Level 2: 50 percent (indoor), 70 percent (outdoor)

* Alert Level 1: 100 percent

CINEMAS AND MOVIE HOUSES

* Alert Level 4: NOT ALLOWED

* Alert Level 3: 30 percent (indoor), 50 percent (outdoor)

* Alert Level 2: 50 percent (indoor), 70 percent (outdoor)

* Alert Level 1: 100 percent

SALONS AND SPAS

* Alert Level 4: 10 percent (indoor), 30 percent (outdoor)

* Alert Level 3: 30 percent (indoor), 50 percent (outdoor)

* Alert Level 2: 50 percent (indoor), 70 percent (outdoor)

* Alert Level 1: 100 percent

CASINOS, COCKFIGHTING, HORSE RACING, LOTTERY AND BETTING SHOPS, OTHER GAMING ESTABLISHMENTS

* Alert Levels 4, 3 and 2: NOT ALLOWED (except as may be authorized by IATF or Office of the President)

* Alert Level 1: 100 percent

Under the guidelines, all establishments must ensure that their customers and workers are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

The establishments, especially those venues for meetings and exhibitions, parties, tourist attractions, amusement parks and recreational venues, must have a Safety Seal certification issued by government agencies.

Roque said that as of October 18, the Philippines recorded a total of 2,727,286 confirmed Covid-19 cases. Of this number, 68,832 (2.5 percent) have remained active, 2,617,693 (96 percent) have recovered, and 40,761 (1.49 percent) have died. (SunStar Philippines)

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