Full seating capacity in public transport OK’d under Alert Level 1; barriers no longer required
MANILA, Philippines — The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases is now allowing full seating capacity in public transportation under Alert Level 1 while plastic barriers are no longer required, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Sunday.
“[P]ublic transportation in areas under Alert Level 1 shall be at full seating capacity,” said Nograles in a statement.
However, if the travel is between an area under Alert Level 1 and an area with a higher alert level, the seating capacity of the higher alert level shall be imposed.
For aviation, maritime, and rail public transport operating in and out of Alert Level 1 areas, seating capacity shall likewise be 100 percent.
Moreover, plastic barriers or dividers, which are usually used in public utility jeepneys and buses, are no longer required.
“The use of acrylic and/or plastic dividers in public transportation shall not be required,” Nograles said.
The Safe, Swift and Smart Passage (S-PaSS) travel management system use is also not mandatory for interzonal travel to Alert Level 1 areas.
Also under the IATF’s revised guidelines for the most lenient alert level is the wearing of well-fitted face masks at all times except when eating and drinking or when participating in team and individual sports in venues where there is proper ventilation.
All private offices and workplaces may operate at full capacity, subject to the guidelines on vaccination for on-site work.
READ: Vaccination a must for on-site workers starting Dec. 1
The government has earlier mandated on-site workers to be fully vaccinated. If not, he/she must undergo a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test every two weeks at their own expense.
Government agencies and instrumentalities should also abide by the 100-percent on-site work. Off-site work, meanwhile, is subject to relevant regulations.
“Off-site work shall be under such work arrangements subject to relevant rules and regulations issued by the Civil Service Commission and the Office of the President,” Nograles, also the IATF co-chair, said.
On the other hand, the use of health declaration forms and paper-based contact tracing will not be mandatory for agencies and establishments under Alert Level 1. The use of digital contact tracing application StaySafe.PH depends on the discretion of establishments and agencies.
On testing, RT-PCR will be recommended and prioritized for senior citizens, persons with comorbidities, and health workers while optional for others.
Isolation facilities are also no longer required within the workplace under Alert Level 1.
Meanwhile, a medical certificate shall be accepted for claiming sick leave, health benefits, or other processes. It should contain the name of the patient, severity of symptoms, diagnosis as probable or confirmed COVID-19, and date of end of quarantine and/or isolation period.
Prior to entering indoor establishments, individuals aged 18 and above must present full vaccination proof prior to entering indoor establishments such as:
- 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. For outdoor or al fresco dining and take out channels, no proof of full vaccination is required
- All indoor personal care establishments
- 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
- Venues with live voice or wind-instrument performers and audiences
- Indoor ancillary establishments in hotels and other accommodation establishments
- Venues for election-related events
Starting March 1, Metro Manila and 38 other areas will be under Alert Level 1.
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