What businesses, activities are allowed under new COVID-19 alert level system?

A tarpaulin poster reminding the public to wear face masks is installed at the busy corner of Quezon Avenue and Agham Road in Quezon City. With COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila remains high, the Department of Health says people should not be complacent and continue observing minimum health and safety protocols. This photo was taken in June 2021. (File photo by NIÑO JESUS ORBETA / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of the Emerging Infectious Diseases released on Monday a list of businesses establishments and activities that will be allowed in Metro Manila once its local government units start the pilot run on of granular lockdowns and new alert level system on Sept. 16.

READ: Metro Manila to start pilot run of new COVID-19 alert level system on Sept. 16 

Under the new alert system, determining which activities are allowed will depend on the so-called 3Cs: Will the activity be conducted in areas that are closed, crowded, or will allow close contact?

Here’s the list classified under the alert levels, from the most lenient to the strictest:

Alert Level 1

All persons may engage in all activities and establishments may operate at full capacity — provided that they follow minimum public health standards. The exceptions are those in areas under a granular lockdown.

Alert Level 2

The following establishments or activities are allowed to operate at a maximum of 50 percent on-site or venue capacity (except for those in areas under a granular lockdown):

Other establishments or activities in areas not included in the list above and are not covered by granular lockdowns may operate at 100% on-site or venue/seating capacity provided minimum public health standards are adhered to.

Alert Level 3

The following businesses and activities are allowed at a maximum of 30 percent on-site or venue capacity (except for those in areas under a granular lockdown):

The operation of the following remain prohibited:

Other establishments or activities in areas not included in the list above and are not under granular lockdown may operate at 100 percent capacity on-site or venue/seating capacity provided minimum public health standards are followed.

Alert Level 4

The following establishments and activities are not allowed to operate:

Outdoor dine-in services in restaurants and eateries are only allowed at 30 percent venue capacity. Indoor dine-in services are allowed to open at 10 percent capacity, but they may only cater to persons fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The IATF also noted that all workers of these establishments must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Further, LGUs may decrease the allowable capacity for these restaurants and eateries.

Personal care services limited to barbershops, hair spas, nail spas, and beauty salons are allowed at 30 percent capacity “if such services are conducted outdoors regardless of vaccination status.” But if these are indoor, the IATF said they may only operate at 10 percent capacity.

Clients must also wear face masks at all times and all employees should be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Regarding in-person religious gatherings, 30 percent venue capacity is allowed if conducted outdoors regardless of vaccination status. Only 10 percent capacity is allowed if conducted indoors, provided they may only accommodate persons fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The IATF noted pastors, priests, rabbis, imams, or other religious ministers and the assistants of these religious congregations must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and must observe minimum public health standards.

Gatherings for necrological services, wakes, inurnment, funerals for those who died of causes other than COVID-19 are allowed as long as it is limited to the immediate family members. The IATF did not mention the venue capacity allowed for these gatherings.

Alert Level 5

Since Alert Level 5 equates to the Enhanced community quarantine, the IATF said previously issued guidelines will be in effect.

Under the omnibus guidelines issued by the IATF last Aug. 25  for the implementation of community quarantine, only the following establishments and activities are allowed to operate at full capacity:

Media establishments may operate at 50 percent capacity.

The following, on the other hand, can operate at a skeleton workforce arrangement. The IATF did not specify a percentage for these sectors:

All other businesses, persons, or activities not included in this list will not be allowed to operate, work, or be undertaken on-site during ECQ.

atm

Read more...