COVID-19 protocols in Metro Manila under Alert Level 3

The COVID-19 protocols in Metro Manila are toned down and now under Alert Level 3.

The prevailing COVID-19 protocols in Metro Manila under alert level 3 shall be observed following the decision of the Philippine government COVID-19 task force or the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to place the entire region under such status from October 16 to 31.

The downgrade from alert level 4 to alert level 3 was declared by Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque in a press release Wednesday, October 13.

Metro Manila was at present under alert level 4 that started on September 16. Reportedly, the shift to alert level 3 was due to the decrease of the COVID-19 cases in the region.

Protocols in Metro Manila under Alert Level 3

Per Office of the Presidential Spokesperson it said during the press briefing Thursday, Oct. 12, 2021, the following are toned down COVID-19 protocols in Metro Manila people shall observe:

  1. The movement of the public is relaxed. Persons restricted based on age and comorbidities can have access only to obtain essential goods and services;
  2. Intrazonal and interzonal travels are still subject to the “reasonable regulations” of the local government unit of destination;
  3. Individual outdoor exercises are now allowed for all ages regardless of comorbidities or vaccination status.

Meanwhile, the following establishments and activities are allowed to operate at a maximum of 30% on-site venue/seating capacity for fully vaccinated and 50% outdoor venue for both vaccinated and unvaccinated, except for establishments and activities located in areas under a granular lockdown:

  • Indoor visitor or tourist attractions, libraries, archives, museums, galleries, and cultural shows and exhibits;
  • Indoor venues for meetings, incentives, conferences, events (MICE), outdoor and indoor amusement parks or theme parks;
  • Cinemas and movie houses, licensure or entrance/qualifying examinations administered by their respective government agency, and specialty examinations authorized by the IATF;
  • Indoor recreational venues such as internet cafes, billiard halls, amusement arcades, bowling alleys, and similar venues;
  • Casinos, horse racing, cockfighting and operation of cockpits, lottery and betting shops, and other gaming establishments;
  • In-person religious gatherings; gatherings for necrological services, wakes, inurnment, and funerals for those who died of causes other than COVID-19;
  • Social events such as but not limited to concerts and parties, wedding receptions, engagement parties, wedding anniversaries, debut and birthday parties, family reunions, and bridal or baby showers, motorcades;
  • Indoor dine-in services of food preparation establishments such as commissaries, restaurants, and eateries;
  • Personal care services such as beauty salons, beauty parlors, medical aesthetic clinics, cosmetic or derma clinics, make-up salons, nail spas, reflexology including home service options, aesthetics, wellness, and holistic centers, fitness studios, gyms, and venues for individual non-contact exercise and sports; film, music, and TV production, and other similar establishments; acupuncture and electrocautery establishments, and massage therapy including sports therapy establishments, establishments providing tanning services, body piercings, tattooing, and similar services.

However, the following establishments and activities shall remain prohibited:

  • Face-to-face or in-person classes for basic education, contact sports except for those conducted under a bubble-type set-up and approved by LGUs, funfairs, peryas, and kid amusement industries, and venues with live voice or wind-instrument performers and audiences;
  • Casinos, horse racing, cockfighting and operation of cockpits, lottery and betting shops, and other gaming establishments except as may be authorized by the IATF or the Office of the President;
  • Gatherings in residences with any person outside of one’s immediate household.

All other establishments and activities not specified above and not covered by granular lockdowns “may be” allowed at 100% on-site or venue/seating capacity, provided they implement minimum public health standards.

For government agencies and instrumentalities, they shall remain to be operational and shall adhere to at least 30% on-site capacity while implementing work-from-home and other flexible work arrangements. RQJ

Share

Leave a Reply