Alona Beach in Panglao Island, Bohol, which will be under general community quarantine (GCQ) with heightened restrictions starting September 24, 2021. (LEO UDTOHAN / file photo)
MANILA, Philippines — The country’s COVID-19 task force has placed Abra, Baguio City and Bohol under general community quarantine (GCQ) with heightened restrictions while Ilocos Norte was placed under GCQ starting September 24 to 30, 2021, Malacañang said Thursday.
“The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) placed Abra, Baguio City and Bohol under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) with heightened restrictions,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.
“Ilocos Norte, on the other hand, shall be de-escalated from GCQ with heightened restrictions to GCQ,” he added.
In the earlier announcement of the IATF of quarantine classifications for September, Abra and Baguio City were initially under GCQ while Bohol was under the more lenient modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).
Ilocos Norte, on the other hand, was initially under modified enhanced community quarantine.
During the implementation of GCQ with heightened restrictions in Abra, Baguio City and Bohol, Roque said “indoor dine-in services may operate at 20% venue or seating capacity while al-fresco or outdoor dine-in services at 50% venue or seating capacity. “
Beauty salons, beauty parlors, barbershops, and nail spas may operate up to 30% venue or seating capacity. Outdoor tourist attractions are likewise allowed at 30% venue capacity provided that minimum public health standards are followed.
“Business establishments with Safety Seal Certifications shall be allowed to operate at an additional 10% points beyond the prescribed on-site capacity or venue/seating capacity, whichever is applicable,” said Roque.
Meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) events and social events in venue establishments and the operation of indoor sports courts, venues and other tourist attractions remain prohibited.
Religious gatherings shall be allowed up to 10% of the venue capacity, but the local government unit (LGU) may increase this allowable capacity to up to 30%.
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 are allowed but only limited to immediate family members.
In terms of movement, Roque said interzonal travel is allowed but remains subject to restrictions of the destination LGU.
Point-to-point travel to areas under GCQ and MGCQ without age restrictions is allowed, but travelers below 18 years old and above 65 must comply with the RT-PCR test-before-travel requirement and other protocols and restrictions as may be imposed by the Department of Tourism and the LGU of destination.