IATF okays 100% operation of businesses, public transport
MALACAÑANG has placed the National Capital Region (NCR) and 38 other areas under the least restrictive Alert Level 1 starting March 1 until 15, almost two years since strict mobility restrictions and lockdowns were imposed to control the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), under Joint Resolution 163-A that was issued yesterday, approved the recommendations of the sub-Technical Working Group on Data Analytics to place Metro Manila, along with other provinces, highly urbanized cities (HUCs), and independent component cities under Alert Level 1, an allow the “full operating/seating/venue capacity of industries, establishments, and public transportation” in the affected areas.
Cabinet Secretary and IATF co-chairman Karlo Nograles said that aside from NCR, the other areas under Alert Level 1 in Luzon are Abra, Apayao, Baguio City and Kalinga in the Cordillera Administrative Region; Dagupan City, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan in Ilocos Region; Batanes, Cagayan, City of Santiago, Isabela and Quirino in Cagayan Valley; Angeles City, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Olongapo City, Pampanga and Tarlac in Central Luzon; Cavite and Laguna in Calabarzon; Marinduque, Puerto Princesa City and Romblon in Mimaropa; and Naga City and Catanduanes in Bicol.
In the Visayas, under Alert Level 1 from March 1 until 15 are Aklan, Bacolod City, Capiz and Guimaras in Western Visayas; Siquijor in Central Visayas; and Biliran in Eastern Visayas.
In Mindanao, Zamboanga City in the Zamboanga Peninsula, Cagayan de Oro City and Camiguin in Northern Mindanao, and Davao City in Davao Region are also under the least restrictive alert level for the same period.
Aside from the areas under the lowest alert level, Nograles identified the following provinces and cities which are under Alert Level 2: Benguet, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Zambales, Batangas, Lucena City, Quezon Province, Rizal, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan; Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Masbate and Sorsogon — all in Luzon.
In the Visayas, the IATF ruled that Alert Level 2 will continue to be imposed in Antique, Iloilo City, Iloilo province, Negros Occidental, Bohol, Cebu province, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Negros Oriental, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Ormoc City, Southern Leyte, Tacloban City and Western Samar.
Alert Level 2 in Mindanao covers the City of Isabela, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, Bukidnon, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Davao De Oro, Davao Del Sur, Davao Del Norte, Davao Oriental, Davao Occidental, General Santos City, North Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Butuan City, Dinagat Islands, Basilan, Maguindanao, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Cotabato City and Lanao Del Sur.
ALERT 1 PROTOCOLS
Nograles said that in areas under Alert level 1, the proper wearing of a “well-fitted face masks” is still required “at all times” in outdoor or indoor private or public establishments and in public transportation by land, air or sea.
Masks may only be removed temporarily when eating and drinking, participating in team and individual sports in venues where ventilation standards can be maintained, and practicing outdoor sports/exercise activities where physical distance can be maintained.
Nograles said all private offices and workplaces, including public and private construction sites, may operate at 100 percent capacity, consistent with national issuances on vaccination requirements for on-site work.
“However, they may continue to provide flexible and alternative work arrangements as deemed appropriate based on function or individual risk,” he said.
Agencies and instrumentalities of the government can already operate at 100 percent on-site capacity while off-site work shall be under work arrangements subject to relevant rules and regulations issued by the Civil Service Commission and the Office of the President.
The IATF has also allowed full seating capacity in public transportation, including aviation, maritime and rail, in areas under Alert Level 1. The use of acrylic and/or plastic dividers in public transportation and the Safe, Swift and Smart Passage (S-Pass) travel management system shall no longer be required.
“For intrazonal and interzonal travels involving public land transportation between an area with a higher alert level classification and an area under Alert Level 1, the passenger capacity shall be that which has the lower passenger capacity rate between the point of origin and point of destination,” Nograles said.
Individuals aged 18 years old and above are required to present proof of full vaccination before participating in mass gatherings or entry into indoor establishments, such as but not limited to in-person religious gatherings, gatherings for necrological services, wakes, inurnment and funerals for those who died of causes other than COVID-19 and for the cremains of the COVID-19 deceased; all indoor dine-in services of food preparation establishments such as kiosks, commissaries, restaurants and eateries; all indoor 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; fitness studios, gyms and venues for exercise and sports; all indoor cinemas or movie houses operating at full capacity; meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibition events and permitted venues for social events such as parties, wedding receptions, engagement parties, wedding anniversaries, debut and birthday parties, family reunions, and bridal or baby showers; venues with live voice or wind-instrument performers and audiences such as in karaoke bars, clubs, concert halls and theaters; indoor ancillary establishments in hotels and other accommodation establishments; and venues for election-related events.
For outdoor or al fresco dining and take out channels, no proof of full vaccination is required.
There was no mention of face-to-face classes but the Department of Education had previously said that in-person classes shall be conducted on a limited capacity in areas under Alert Levels 1 and 2 and is subject to the approval of the Office of the President.
Nograles, meanwhile, said the use of health declaration forms or paper-based contact tracing shall no longer be required for all the agencies and establishments under Alert Level 1, while the use of digital contact tracing such as the StaySafe.PH application is optional.
The testing protocols shall continue to be implemented, consistent with national guidelines for individuals who are unvaccinated or have higher exposure risk. Testing using RT-PCR shall be recommended and prioritized for priority groups A2 (persons above 60 years old) and A3 (persons with comorbidities) and A1 or healthcare workers.
RT-PCR testing is not recommended for asymptomatic close contacts, unless symptoms will develop, but they should immediately isolate regardless of test results and do symptom monitoring.
“Should testing still be used, testing should be done at least five days from the day of last exposure,” Nograles said adding that testing using antigen tests shall be recommended only for symptomatic individuals and in instances wherein RT-PCR is not available.
He also said that Hospital Infection Prevention and Control Committees (HIPCC) may also implement testing protocols in health facilities for health workers and patients based on their assessment of risk and benefit.
Nograles said under Alert Level 1, establishments are no longer required to set-up isolation facilities within the workplace.
He said for incoming international travelers, they shall follow the updated quarantine protocols consistent with IATF Resolution No. 160 A/B.
Nograles said for treatment, close contacts and asymptomatic confirmed cases, as well as mild to moderate confirmed cases shall be managed at the primary care level, such as health centers, private clinics thru face-to-face or teleconsultation, while confirmed cases with severe and critical symptoms shall be managed in the appropriate health care facility.
He said reintegration and isolation can be discontinued upon completion of the recommended isolation period, provided that they do not have fever for at least 24 hours without the use of any antipyretic medications, and shall have improvement of respiratory signs and symptoms.
INDICATORS
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said the IATF recommended Alert Level 1 for NCR and the 38 other areas due to improved COVID-19 indicators in these areas.
Año said the areas passed the metrics, including “low to minimal risk classification” and less than 50 percent of COVID-19 bed utilization rate.
Año said these areas have also achieved 70 percent or more in terms of the vaccination of their eligible population, including full vaccination of 80 percent of their senior citizens and people with comorbidities.
On the possibility that the declaration of Alert Level 1 in these areas could lead to another surge of COVID-19 cases, Año said: “We have to take some risk because many of our countrymen lost their jobs, having difficulty. We need to revive our economy of course, with caution. So, while our (daily) cases are low, we are doing this. But it’s important to have the cooperation and support of everyone.”
Año said Alert Level 1 is the “new normal.” “Maybe later on we can go to what we call Alert Zero, that is pre-COVID situation in January 2020 where only those in the hospitals are wearing face mask. There is no longer any restriction whatsoever,” he added.
Also, Año urged the public to report establishments which do not require customers to present their vaccination cards or certificates prior to entry.
“There are some establishments that are no longer asking for vaccination cards,” said Año, citing initial information that reached him.
Under existing IATF guidelines, establishments – including malls and restaurants – are required to check on the vaccination cards of their before allowing them to enter the premises.
“That is why we are appealing to our countrymen to report to us these establishments (violating the guidelines) so we can take appropriate action against them,” said Año, adding: “We can recall their safe seal or we can conduct an investigation against them.”
Safety seals are given by government agencies which allow establishments an additional 10 percent customer capacity on top of what’ is allowed by IATF guidelines. — With Victor Reyes
