THE government will expand the implementation of the alert level system into 15 provinces and four cities starting today, Wednesday, Malacañang announced yesterday.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) approved the implementation of the alert level classification until October 31.
Under IATF resolution 14-D, placed under Alert Level 4 are the provinces of Negros Oriental and Davao Occidental while under Alert Level 3 are the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Siquijor, Davao del Norte and Davao City.
Under Alert Level 2 are the provinces of Batangas, Quezon, Bohol, Cebu, Davao de Oro, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental; and the cities of Lucena, Cebu, Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue.
The rest of the country will remain under various community quarantine restrictions.
The government piloted the new five-level alert system in Metro Manila from September 16 to 30 with Alert level 4 and extended it up to October 15. This was further downgraded to Alert Level 3 from October 16 to 31 due to the decline in coronavirus disease cases and reduced hospital utilization.
Taking its cue from the government, the Supreme Court has expanded the operational capacity of some of its offices from October 20 to October 29 but stressed the “no personal filing” policy will remain in effect.
“The operational capacity of the offices and services in the Supreme Court covering the period October 20, 2021 to October 29, 2021 is hereby increased to a maximum of thirty percent, except for the Office of the Bar Confidant, Medical and Dental Services, Security Division and Maintenance Division, which is up to a maximum of fifty percent,” the SC said in a memorandum dated October 18 and signed by Acting Chief Justice Estela Perlas Bernabe.
PNP chief Guillermo Eleazar, meanwhile, ordered police commanders in Metro Manila to increase police visibility in areas where people are converging after NCR shifted to Alert Level 3.
Eleazar issued the order on the instruction of Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, a key member of the IATF.
“I have already directed our unit commanders in the National Capital Region to increase police presence in all possible areas of destination of our kababayan (countrymen) following the downgrading of alert level in Metro Manila,” Eleazar said, adding he has also directed Metro police commanders “to coordinate with our LGUs in Metro Manila so we can properly implement minimum public health safety protocols and other restrictions in the NCR.”
Eleazar said that 8,926 individuals were accosted last Monday for violating health protocols, raising to 27,940 the total number of violators in the first three days of Alert Level 3 in Metro Manila.
Under Alert Level 4, several industries are allowed to operate and some activities are allowed at 10 percent venue capacity such as indoor dining services, operations of gyms and venues for non-contact sports exercises, conduct of specialty examinations authorized by IATF and subject to the health city requirements; and movie, television and music productions.
Recreational indoor venues such as internet cafés, billiard halls, amusement arcades, bowling alleys, skating rinks, archery halls, and swimming pools found in areas under Alert Level 4 are also allowed to operate at 10 percent capacity provided they have been issued a Safety Seal and all their employees are fully vaccinated; up to 30 percent for areas under Alert Level 3, and up to 50 percent for those under Alert Level 2.
For outdoor venues, up to 30 percent are allowed under Alert Level 4; 50 percent under Alert level 3 and 70 percent under Alert Level 2.
Conduct of meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions indoors are also allowed up to 10 percent capacity in areas under Alert Level 4 provided that all participants are employees of the establishments and participants fully vaccinated; up to 30 percent in areas under Alert Level 3, and 50 percent for areas under Alert Level 2.
MICE done outdoors are allowed up to 30 percent under Alert Level 4, 50 percent under Alert Level 3, 70 percent under Alert Level 2.
Industries or areas that are not allowed to operate under Alert Level 4 include local tourist attractions such as libraries, archives, museums, galleries, exhibits, parks but it shall be allowed to operate at 10 percent capacity and provided that the establishments have been safety certificate and all employees and visitors are fully vaccinated.
These establishments are allowed to operate under Alert Level 3 up to 30 percent of capacity of venue, up to 50 percent under Alert Level 2; and up to 70 percent — Alert level 1.
Indoor cinemas are not allowed under Alert Level 4 but are allowed to operate at 30 percent capacity in areas under Alert Level 3; up to 50 percent under Alert level 2 and 100 percent.
Establishments providing personal care establishments such as barbershops, hair spas, hair salons, nail spas and those offering aesthetic cosmetic services are allowed at 10 capacity in areas under Alert Level 4; up to 50 percent for areas under Alert Level 3; and 50 percent for areas under Alert Level 2.
The Department of Health-Bicol Region has pinned the blame on the high mobility of people and the open borders of Naga City as factors in the recent spike of COVID case in the area.
The IATF had placed Naga City under modified enhanced community quarantine until October 31. This was due to the increase in COVID cases in Naga, which currently has 1,578 active cases. — With Gerard Naval, Victor Reyes, and Ashzel Hachero
