Metro Manila’s Alert Level 4 category up for review after a week, says Abalos

FILE PHOTO: A nun is being inoculated at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish church in Diliman, Quezon City, which was turned into a COVID-19 vaccination center on Friday, May 21, 2021.  INQUIRER/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — The placement of Metro Manila under general community quarantine or GCQ Alert Level 4 in a bid to taper off COVID-19 transmission will be assessed after one week, Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benhur Abalos said Friday.

Abalos made the remark amid calls to increase physical capacity in churches. Under Alert Level 4, only 10 percent will be allowed if religious gatherings are conducted indoors and only fully vaccinated persons can be accommodated.

If held outdoors, religious activities can be conducted at 30 percent venue capacity, regardless of vaccination status.

“After one week, ia-assess ito. Kung hindi tayo pumasa, another one week. ‘Yung second week, ‘yung 14th day, sana magkaisa tayo, pababain natin, umabot tayo sa Alert Level 3 para man lang umabot tayo doon sa 30 percent [indoors] na pupwede na,” Abalos said in an interview with Teleradyo.

(After one week, this will be assessed. If we do not pass, then another week. For that second week, on the 14th day, hopefully, we can unite so that we can bring this down to Alert Level 3 so that we can reach the 30 percent capacity indoors.)

Metro Manila is on GCQ Alert Level 4 from September 16-30.

READ: NCR under Alert Level 4 Sept. 16-30 for granular lockdown tests

Based on the new guidelines on granular lockdowns, areas under Alert Level 4 are those with high and/or increasing COVID-19 transmission and high total bed and intensive care unit utilization rates.

Persons aged below 18 and above 65 and those with health risks, including pregnant women, must stay at home unless they need to access essential goods and services or have to go to work.

KGA