The entire Philippines will remain on Alert Level 2 until December 31, Malacañang said Wednesday.
According to the Palace, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) decided to extend Alert Level 2 until the end of the year despite the continued decline in COVID-19 cases.
He said the government is not yet ready to put areas under the broadest alert level, especially since there is the threat of a more contagious omicron variant.
“Hindi pa talaga tayo ganun ka-confident to open up places for Alert Level 1 because we need to ramp up our vaccinations still,” said acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles.
Under Alert Level 2, cockpits will be allowed to operate again, but health protocols must be strictly enforced and in favor of the local government unit.
According to the IATF, only 50 percent of the maximum venue capacity is required, and only fully vaccinated people will be allowed to enter and work in the cockpits.
“Cashless ang pagtaya o betting. Tanging technology-based platforms ang pinapayagan. Ibig sabihin nito, walang palitan ng pera sa sabungan at walang oral placing of bets,” said Nograles.
Under Alert Level 2, cockpits will be allowed to operate again, but health protocols must be strictly enforced and in favor of the local government unit.
Philippines will remain at Alert Level 2 until end of 2021
According to the IATF, only 50 percent of the maximum venue capacity is required, and only fully vaccinated people will be allowed to enter and work in the cockpits.
Meanwhile, eight places were added to the “red list,” effective from Thursday to the end of the year.
When a place is included in the red list, passengers from that area will not be allowed into the Philippines, except for Filipinos who return home via repatriation or Bayanihan flights.
These include Andorra, France, Monaco, the Northern Mariana Islands, Reunion, San Marino, South Africa, and Switzerland.
Vaccinated Filipinos coming from red list areas must present a negative RT-PCR test taken at least 72 hours before flying to the Philippines.
They will first remain in facility-based quarantine until a negative RT-PCR test taken on the 7th day of quarantine comes out. Then, they also have to go home quarantine until the 14th day.
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