Some quarantine restrictions in the National Capital Region will be relaxed starting September 16 this year. However, it will be placed on Alert Level 4 as part of the new rule on controlling COVID-19 infections.
According to Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, the Metro Manila mayors have agreed to put Manila on the same alert level.
“Alert Level 4 lang ang gagawin nila at magtutulong-tulong sila para mapababa yung numero. At ang objective ay mapababa sa Alert Level 3,” he said.
With the new alert systems, small granular lockdowns will replace the lockdown of entire regions and cities. Instead, they will focus only on closing areas right where the concentration of infections is. It aims to get the economy back on track and get many back to work while restricting many infections.
Every week, the Department of Health will decide the alert levels of areas based on COVID-19 infection, hospital bed utilization, and intensive care utilization.
Based on guidelines released Monday, Alert Level 4 identifies areas with high and rising COVID-19 case counts, where high utilization is also the total bed utilization rate and intensive care unit utilization rate.
However, the following are allowed under Alert Level 4:
- 30% capacity outdoor dining
- 10% indoor dining services (only for those who are fully vaccinated)
- 30% capacity of barbershops, hair spas, nail spas, and salons if they have outdoor seating; Only 10% will be allowed in areas if it is indoor but only for the fully-vaccinated
- 30% capacity for religious gatherings if there is an outdoor venue; limited to 10% capacity at indoor venues (only for those who are fully vaccinated)
Alert Level 4 will ban:
- indoor visitor or tourist attractions, libraries, archives, museums, galleries, cultural shows, and exhibits
- indoor venues for meetings, conferences, conferences, and events
Metro Manila will be placed on Alert Level 4 starting Thursday
- indoor theaters and venues with live performers such as karaoke bars, bars, clubs, concert halls, and theaters
- all amusement parks/theme parks, fairs, kid amusement industries such as playgrounds, playrooms, and kiddie rides
- indoor recreational venues such as internet shops, billiards, arcades, bowling alleys, and similar places
- indoor face-to-face classes, tests, and other educational activities, except those previously approved by the IATF and/or the Office of the President
- casinos, turfs, cockpits, lotto and betting shops, and other gaming establishments except as permitted by the IATF or the Office of the President
- social events such as concerts and parties, wedding receptions, engagement parties, wedding anniversaries, debut and birthday parties, family reunions, bridal and baby showers, parades, processions, motorcades, and gatherings in houses with other people outside the participants in the immediate household
- indoor sports venues, fitness studios, gyms, spas, or other indoor leisure centers or facilities and swimming pools
- all contact sports, except those within the bubble-type set-up that follow the guidelines set by the IATF; must be approved by the local government venue
- services such as medical aesthetic clinics, cosmetic or derma clinics, make-up salons, reflexology, aesthetics, wellness, and holistic centers and other similar areas; acupuncture and electrocautery establishments, massage therapy including sports therapy establishments; place that provides tanning services, body piercings, tattooing, etc .; home service of all of the above are prohibited
- specialized markets of the Department of Tourism such as Staycations
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