Entire PH stays under quarantine

NOT ALL ABOARD Social distancing will be part of the new norms on the metro after the lockdown in Metropolitan Manila, but the government and private operators of the three elevated light-rail lines in the capital region have yet to announce howthey plan to control boarding at the usually crowded stations. With nobody controlling boarding at the train doors, social distancing signs like the one shown at the MRT 3 North Avenue station in Quezon City in the picture above will not be enough to prevent overcrowding on trains. —GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philipines — The entire Philippines will remain under quarantine after the lockdown ends on Friday, with the government’s coronavirus task force placing eight regions where the risk for infection is considered low under restrictions again on Wednesday.

The regions that were removed from community quarantine on Tuesday were put under modified general community quarantine, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said.

He said the decision would be made official through an amendment to an earlier resolution issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases, which was expected to be approved during the group’s meeting on Wednesday.

By official demand

The reimposition means the entire country would be under some form of quarantine, with different levels of severity, Año said.

He said the local officials themselves asked for a return to restrictions, expressing concern that a premature exit from quarantine could touch off new outbreaks of the new coronavirus that causes the severe respiratory disease COVID-19.

“Many local chief executives—governors, mayors—sent petitions and requests saying they were not yet ready to remove community quarantine,” Año said in a press briefing in Malacañang.

New guidelines for areas under modified general community quarantine would be drawn up, he added.

But local officials, he said, could loosen some restrictions under a modified general community quarantine while still being in control of their borders and the movement of people, and allowing the reopening of certain industries.

Without some kind of quarantine, there might be a second or third wave of infections, Año said.

‘Honest mistake’

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III also said there had been an “honest mistake” in the task force resolution removing several regions of the country from community quarantine beginning Saturday, a day after the ending of the lockdown that President Duterte imposed in mid-March to halt the spread of the new coronavirus in the Philippines.

Duque said he had thought the resolution would not mention specific areas and would only discuss the changes between enhanced community quarantine and modified enhanced community quarantine, as well as general community quarantine and modified general community quarantine.

The regions removed from community quarantine were Ilocos, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Other regions would be under either general community quarantine or modified enhanced community quarantine until May 31.

With the easing of restrictions, the government is loosening movement and business curbs for a phased reopening of the economy.

Most of the industries and sectors permitted to reopen in Metro Manila, Laguna and Cebu City, the areas under modified enhanced community quarantine, could only do so partially, meaning only half of their workforce could be on site and the others could work from home.

This restriction is lifted for those under general community quarantine.

Shopping malls

Shopping malls and nonleisure commercial centers are among those that have been permitted to operate, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said on Wednesday.

But beauty salons, barbershops, facial care centers, massage parlors, other personal care services, gyms, sports complexes, cinemas, theaters, karaoke bars, kid amusement industries, libraries, museums, archives, cultural centers, water parks, beaches, resorts, travel agencies and tour operators must remain closed whether under modified enhanced or general community quarantine, Roque said.

Public transportation would be allowed to resume only in areas under general community quarantine. It would be banned in areas under modified enhanced community quarantine until the end of May, though some tricycles could be allowed to return to the streets under local government guidelines.

In these areas, motorcycles and e-scooters could be used but must only have one rider, while biking and nonmotorized travel is encouraged. Companies could deploy shuttle buses for their workers.

Airlines could still not operate domestic flights, but they would be allowed limited international flights.

Sea travel between general community quarantine areas would be permitted.

Outdoor activities

Limited outdoor exercises like walking, jogging and biking would be allowed under modified enhanced community quarantine, but not contact sports, Roque said.

People exercising must wear protective masks and keep a 2-meter distance from one another, he added.

In general community quarantine areas, limited contact sports like golf and tennis would be permitted.

The other manufacturing sectors allowed to reopen under modified enhanced and general community quarantine are makers of beverages, tobacco products, electrical machinery, paper and paper products, computer electronic and optical products, electronic equipment, machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, nonmetallic products, wood products and furniture, and coke and refined oil products.

Office administration and office support would be permitted, along with architecture and engineering services, legal and accounting services, scientific research and development, management and consultancy, and other financial services like money exchange, insurance, and noncompulsory pension funding.

To be allowed as well are advertising and market research, film, music and TV production, computer programming, publishing and printing, sale and repair of motor vehicles, photography, fashion, graphic, industrial, and interior design, and mall-based government front-line services.

Hardware stores, bookstores, and stores selling clothing and accessories, baby care supplies, pet food and pet care supplies, communications and electronic equipment, flowers, jewelry, perfume, antique items, and toys could operate.

Wakes

Wakes would be permitted only in areas under general community quarantine.

Real estate activities would be allowed, but only leasing would be permitted in modified enhanced community quarantine areas.

As for government work, only a skeleton force would be allowed under modified enhanced community quarantine, while other employees would work from home.

Under general community quarantine, alternative work arrangements would be allowed, such as four-day workweek.

Roque said the goal was to improve the situation in different parts of the country to allow them to exit from strict lockdown.

The strategy involves testing people for the new coronavirus, tracing their contacts, and treating patients.