Alert levels system to cover more areas

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The alert levels system for COVID-19 response being piloted in Metro Manila would be expanded to more areas beginning on Oct. 20 up to the end of the month, Malacañang announced on Tuesday.

The alert levels system is meant to replace the community quarantine classifications in order to do away with large-scale lockdowns and allow more businesses to operate.

Under this program, only households or areas with a clustering of COVID-19 cases will be placed on strict lockdowns.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the expansion of the program to more regions was still part of the pilot study, in preparation for its possible nationwide rollout.

Roque said the lower number of COVID-19 cases and improving health-care utilization rate in Metro Manila led to the decision to test out the system in more areas.

“We are expanding our pilot implementation of the alert levels system while we are studying the results of the initial pilot,” Roque said at a press briefing.

Beginning on Oct. 20, Negros Oriental and Davao Occidental will be on alert level 4.Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Siquijor, Davao City and Davao del Norte will be on alert level 3, same as Metro Manila.

Batangas, Quezon Province, Lucena City, Bohol, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Cebu Province, Davao De Oro, Davao del Sur and Davao Oriental will be on alert level 2, the second most relaxed level.

There is no area in the country currently on alert level 1, and to qualify for this, provinces or cities must have fully vaccinated at least 70 percent of their senior citizens, persons with comorbidities and eligible population.

On alert level 2, previously restricted business establishments are allowed to operate at 50 percent of indoor capacity provided that they cater only to vaccinated individuals and their workers are fully vaccinated as well, and at 70 percent of outdoor capacity provided that their workers are fully vaccinated.

These rules apply to restaurants and eateries; cinemas; fitness studios and gyms; personal care establishments; all contact sports; film, music and television productions; venues for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions; permitted venues for social events; visitor and tourist attractions; amusement parks and theme parks; recreational venues such as internet cafes and amusement arcades; venues with live voice or wind-instrument performers such as karaoke bars and concert halls; and funfairs and kid amusement industries.

On alert level 3, karaoke bars, concert halls, funfairs, kid amusement industries and all contact sports except those under a bubble-type set up, are not permitted to operate.

But the other establishments are allowed to operate at 30 percent indoor capacity provided that they cater only to fully vaccinated customers and with fully vaccinated workers, and 50 percent outdoor capacity provided that their workers are fully vaccinated.

On alert level 4, cinemas, karaoke bars, concert halls, funfairs, kid amusement industries and all contact sports are not allowed to operate. INQ