(Eagle News) — With the expansion of the COVID-19 alert level system to more areas outside Metro Manila starting today, Wednesday, Oct. 20, Malacanang released the guidelines of the activities which are allowed and still banned under the different alert levels.
Before Oct. 20, only Metro Manila was placed under the pilot test of the new alert level system. Currently, the National Capital Region (NCR) is under the so-called Alert Level 3.
Starting today, Wednesday, Oct. 20, three more regions are included in the pilot implementation — Region 4-A, Region 7 or the Central Visayas, and Region 11 or Davao Region.
Only select areas in these regions are under the Alert Level system until Oct. 31
Under Alert Level 4 are Negros Oriental in Region 7 (Central Visayas), and Davao Occidental in Region 11 (Davao Region). Under Alert Level 3 are six areas, namely Cavite, Laguna, Rizal in Region 4-A; Siquijor in Central Visayas (Region 7); and Davao City and Davao del Norte in the Davao Region (Region 11).
Under Alert Level 2 are 11 areas:
Region 4-A – Batangas, Quezon Province, Lucena City;
Region 7 – Bohol, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Cebu province;
Region 11 – Davao de Oro; Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that once the evaluation of the Alert Levels System shows that it is more effective than the current community quarantine classifications, then it will be implemented nationwide.
“Ilang mga rehiyon pa lang ang na-include natin doon sa pilot implementation. We are expanding our pilot implementation of the Alert Levels System habang binubusisi pa talaga yung resulta ng initial pilot,” said Secretary Roque.
Roque said that these are the activities allowed under the expanded alert level system:
-For dining services-
Dine-in services –
10 percent for alert level 4; 30 percent for alert level 3; 50 percent for alert level 2 areas; and 100 percent allowed under alert level 1 for fully vaccinated individuals.
Outdoor dining services –
30 percent for Alert Level 4; 50 percent for alert level 3; 70 percent for alert level 2; and 100 percent allowed for alert level 1 areas provided that workers or employees are fully vaccinated.
The same allowed levels (for indoor and outdoor activities) are applicable for cinemas or movie houses, music and television productions; specialty exams; fitness studios, gyms and venues for non-contact exercises and sports.
-For film, music and TV productions-
Malacanang said film, music, and television production shall be subject to joint guidelines as may be issued by relevant government agencies. Indoor film, music and television productions shall follow the same allowable limits as those for indoor dining. This means 10 percent for alert level 4; 30 percent for alert level 3; 50 percent for alert level 2 areas; and 100 percent allowed under alert level 1 but only for fully vaccinated individuals.
For outdoor film, music and TV productions, it shall be the same as the levels followed for outdoor dining activities — 30, 50, 70, and 100 percent for Alert levels 4, 3, 2 and 1 respectively.
“Specialty examinations authorized by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) shall be allowed at the same indoor capacities as mentioned above, subject to health and safety guidelines as approved by the IATF, provided that workers/employees are fully vaccinated and they cater only to fully vaccinated individuals,” Malacanang said.
-For fitness studios, gyms, non-contact sports-
Meanwhile, fitness studios, gyms, and venues for non-contact exercise and sports, shall be subject to Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) sector-specific protocols. Indoor capacity is also at 10, 30, 50, and 100 percent for Alert levels 4, 3, 2 and 1 provided that they cater only to fully vaccinated individuals, while outdoor capacity is allowed at 30, 50, 70, and 100 percent for Alert levels 4, 3, 2 and 1 , respectively, and will be open to both vaccinated and unvaccinated.
All kinds of contact sports are still not allowed under Alert Level 4 for both indoor and outdoor. For Alert Level 3, contact sports can only be done or allowed under a bubble-type set-up and approved by the local government unit where such games shall be held. For alert level 2, contact sports is allowed at 50 percent indoor and 70 percent outdoor, provided that they cater only to fully vaccinated individuals, with fully vaccinated workers/employees for indoor and for all customers for outdoor. For alert level 4, it is 100 percent allowed.
-For meeting venues, tourist attractions, museums, recreational venues-
The IATF also set guidelines for the following venues and establishments:
venues for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions; permitted venues for social events; visitor or tourist attractions such as libraries, archives, museums, galleries, exhibits, parks, plazas, public gardens, scenic viewpoints or overlooks, and the like; amusement parks and theme parks; and recreational venues such as internet cafes, billiard halls, amusement arcades, bowling alleys, skating rinks, archery halls, swimming pools, and similar venues have different capacities and protocols for indoor and outdoor per Alert Level.
Alert Level 4 – indoor at 10 percent, provided that they have been issued a Safety Seal Certification, will cater only to fully vaccinated individuals, and workers/employees are fully vaccinated
Alert Level 3 — these establishments are allowed indoors at 30 percent capacity; will only cater to fully vaccinated individuals and workers/employees are fully vaccinated
Alert Level 2 — these establishments are allowed indoors at 50 percent capacity; will only cater to fully vaccinated individuals and their workers/employees are fully vaccinated
Alert Level 1 – 100 percent capacity
The same industries are allowed at 30 percent outdoor capacity at Alert Level 4, provided that the establishments have been issued a Safety Seal Certification, and workers or employees are fully vaccinated.
There will also be 50 and 70 percent outdoor venue/seating capacity for Alert level 3 to Alert Level 2, respectively, provided that their workers/employees are fully vaccinated and 100 percent for Alert Level 1.
-For cinemas and movie houses-
On the other hand, the operation of cinemas and movie houses shall be subject to DTI sector-specific guidelines. These establishments are not allowed in Alert Level 4 for both indoor and outdoor; allowed at 30 percent indoor in Alert Level 3, 50 percent in Alert Level 2, and 100 percent in Alert Level 1, provided that they cater only to fully vaccinated individuals and workers/employees are vaccinated. They are allowed at 50 percent outdoor in Alert Level 3, 70 percent in Alert Level 2, and 100 percent in Alert Level 1.
For personal care establishments such as barbershops, hair spas, hair salons, and nail spas, and those offering aesthetic/cosmetic services or procedures, make-up services, salons, spas, reflexology, and other similar procedures, including home service options shall be subject to DTI sector-specific protocols at 10, 30, 50, and 100 percent indoor in Alert Level 4 to Alert Level 1, respectively, provided that they cater only to fully vaccinated individuals and workers/employees are fully vaccinated; and at 30, 50, 70, and 100 percent outdoor in Alert Levels 4, 3, 2 and 1 respectively, provided that workers/employees are fully vaccinated.
Casinos, horse racing, cockfighting and the operation of cockpits, lottery and betting shops, and other gaming establishments remain prohibited in Alert Level 4 to Alert Level 2, except as may be authorized by the IATF or the Office of the President. All of these, however, are allowed under Alert Level 1.
Also not allowed for both indoor and outdoor in Alert Levels 4 and 3 are venues with live voice or wind instrument performers and audiences such as karaoke bars, clubs, concert halls, and theaters, as well as funfairs, peryas, and kid amusement industries such as playgrounds, playrooms, and kiddie rides. The same listed industries are allowed at 50 percent indoor and 70 percent outdoor in Alert Level 2, provided that in indoor they are fully vaccinated. Both indoor and outdoor activities are allowed at a 100 percent capcity under Alert Level 1, Malacanang said.
(Eagle News Service)
