COVID-19 test_positive. STOCK PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Kalinga, Ifugao, Mountain Province, and Northern Samar will be escalated to Alert Level 4 from January 21-31, Malacañang said Thursday.
This comes amid high COVID-19 infections recorded in the country.
“The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) approved on Thursday, January 20, 2022, the escalation of Kalinga, Ifugao, and Mountain Province in the Cordillera Administrative Region, as well as the province of Northern Samar, to Alert Level 4,” Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said in a statement.
Alert Level 3, on the other hand, will be raised over the following areas during the same period:
Luzon
- Apayao
- Puerto Princesa City
- Masbate
Visayas
- Siquijor
Mindanao
- Zamboanga del Norte
- Zamboanga Sibugay
- Lanao del Norte
- Davao de Oro
- Davao Oriental
- North Cotabato
- Sarangani
- Sultan Kudarat
- Surigao del Norte
- Maguindanao
- Basilan
These areas used to be under the more relaxed Alert Level 2 but raised to the next alert level status due to rising coronavirus cases.
Metro Manila and several other areas were earlier placed on COVID-19 Alert Level 3 until the end of this month.
According to the IATF, intrazonal and interzonal travel are subject to “reasonable restrictions” that may be imposed by local government units under Alert Levels 3 and 4.
Individuals aged 18 below and those belonging to the vulnerable population are also allowed access and travel to procure and avail essential goods and services and for work under these alert levels.
The following establishments and activities are prohibited under Alert Level 3:
- Face-to-face classes in basic education
- Contact sports
- Fun fairs
- Karaoke bars, clubs, concert halls, theaters
- Casinos
- Horse racing, cockfighting, operation of cockpits, lottery and betting shops, and other gaming establishments aside from those that will be allowed by the IATF or the Office of the President
- Social gatherings where individuals do not belong in the same household
The following activities will be allowed under Alert Level 3 with 30-percent indoor venue capacity for fully vaccinated people and 50-percent outdoor capacity:
- Cinemas
- Meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions
- Permitted venues for social events
- Visitor or tourist attractions
- Amusement parks
- Recreational venues
- In-person religious gatherings
- Licensure exams
- Dine-in services
- Personal care services
- Fitness studios, non-contact sports
- Film, music, television production
Meanwhile, under Alert Level 4, the following areas are restricted from operating:
- Face-to-face classes for basic education, except those approved by the IATF and/or the Office of the President
- Face-to-face classes for higher education or for technical, vocational education and training, except those approved by the IATF and/or the Office of the President
- All contact sports
- Cinemas and movie houses
- Funfairs and kid amusement industries
- Venues with live voice or wind-instrument performers and audiences
- Casinos, horse racing, cockfighting and operation of cockpits, lottery and betting shops, and other gaming establishments except as may be authorized by the IATF or the Office of the President
- Gatherings in residences with individuals not belonging to the same household
The following establishments with safety seal certification may operate under Alert Level 4, provided that they have a maximum of 10-percent indoor capacity for fully vaccinated people and 30-percent outdoor capacity:
- Venues for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions
- Permitted venues for social events
- Visitor or tourist attractions
- Amusement parks and theme parks
- Recreational venues
- On Thursday, the Department of Health reported 31,173 new COVID-19 cases bringing the country’s active infections to 275,364.
The Philippines has been seeing a rapid and almost exponential rise in coronavirus infections since the holidays when restrictions have been eased.
The total confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country stood at 3,324,478 as of January 20.