STARTING today, a house or a condominium floor in Metro Manila can be placed under a 14-day lockdown if a single case of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is reported under the new pandemic alert systems with granular lockdown that the government is experimenting in the National Capital Region.
Metro Manila Council chairman and Parañaque City mayor Edwin Olivarez said an entire street or sitio can also be locked down if two residents test positive for coronavirus.
Olivarez said this was among the guidelines that mayors of NCR’s 16 cities and one municipality agreed on during their meeting with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
The guidelines have been disseminated to barangay officials, local businesses, and religious groups.
“The DILG issued the guidelines. We can place an entire condominium floor on lockdown if there is one COVID-19 case there. The same rule applies for a residence, one case and it will be in lockdown. In a street o a sitio, if two residents test positive, that is enough to order a lockdown,” he said.
Olivarez said the area coverage of the lockdown will be based on a “clustering” strategy.
During the 14-day lockdown, the local government will undertake mass testing and contact tracing to isolate potential carriers.
Households and residents under a lockdown will receive assistance from the local and national governments, not in cash, but in food packs.
The NCR is under Alert Level 4 under the granular lockdown with alert levels system that is being pilot tested starting today until September 30. Restrictions under alert level 4 are similar to curbs in effect under the modified enhanced community quarantine classification.
Olivarez said Metro mayors are hopeful that the new quarantine protocol would be more responsive in addressing COVID-19 challenges as this would give them greater leeway “to concentrate on prohibitions. The other good thing is we can gradually open our economy as we have identified allowable exceptions.”
He mentioned restaurants that will be allowed to continue operating during the Level 4 alert at 30 percent capacity for outdoor dining and 10 percent for indoor, although only vaccinated clients can come in.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said the government is confident that the alert level system will succeed because “this is done by other countries. Our health professionals saw this is working provided it is done in tandem, in combination and complementary, with vaccination.”
He cited as example the situation in the United States and United Kingdom. He said that while the two countries registered high number of COVID-19 cases, their mortality rate and severe cases are low due to their successful vaccination program.
“The vaccines are working. But you have to combine it with strict minimum health public standards, we should not remove our face mask and observe physical distancing,” said Año.
Año said more cases are expected in the coming days because of the presence of the highly transmissible Delta variant of the coronavirus in the country.
“Whether you like it or not, with the Delta variant, cases will increase. That is why we will focus on the severe and critical, boost the capability of our hospitals. Anyway, 97 percent of patients are able to recover,” he said.
PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said the PNP is prepared to implement the new system of quarantine.
“We are continuously coordinating with the LGUs in Metro Manila for proper enforcement of these rules–from the identification of areas that would be placed under lockdown up to the distribution of assistance to the affected residents,” said Eleazar.
He said policemen will continue to work with barangay officials in implementing the protocols, including the curfew.
In Rizal, the Baras municipal government shut down its municipal hall for 14 days after 15 of its employees tested positive for COVID-19.
Mayor Kathrine Robles said in her Facebook page that the lockdown started September 13 and will be in effect until September 26. Most municipal hall transactions are suspended temporarily.
Courts in the National Capital Region will remain physically closed despite the despite the shift to general community quarantine Alert Level 4. The closure will remain “until further notice.”
Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo issued the directive on Wednesday afternoon.
“The courts in the NCR shall continue to operate online and conduct videoconferencing hearings on pending cases and all other matters, whether urgent or not, as far as practicable, so as not to delay the trial of cases and court processes,” Gesmundo said.
“The essential judicial offices shall maintain the necessary skeleton staff to enable them to address urgent matters and concerns,” he added.
Gesmundo said the “no personal filing” policy will also remain in effect unless for exceptionally urgent matters.
The directive also stated that the time for filing and service of pleadings remains suspended and shall resume after seven calendar days counted from the first day of the physical reopening of the courts. — With Victor Reyes, Christian Oineza and Ashzel Hachero
