THE whole Cebu has been placed under Alert Level 2, which brings a loosening of current quarantine restrictions, after the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases expanded the pilot implementation of the Alert Levels System to cover areas outside Metro Manila from Wednesday, October 20, until the end of the month.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press briefing that starting October 20, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City and Cebu Province would be placed under Alert Level 2 which, among other things, would allow cinemas to reopen and expand the venue capacity of other establishments.
Cebu City, Mandaue City and Cebu Province are currently under general community quarantine (GCQ), while Lapu-Lapu City is under GCQ with heightened restrictions.
If the Alert Levels System is seen to be more effective than the current community quarantine classifications, then it will be implemented nationwide, Roque said.
He said the lowering of Covid-19 cases and the improvement of the country’s healthcare utilization rate contributed to the decision to expand the Alert Levels System outside the National Capital Region.
Acting Mayor Michael Rama welcomed the placing of Cebu City under Alert Level 2 following the continued drop in its Covid-19 cases this October.
But Rama said this does not mean the City will follow all the stipulations of the IATF for that classification as he still had to meet with various sectors, including barangay officials, to gather their views on IATF’s loosening of restrictions in the city.
“It’s a welcome development, but… we still have to synthesize all reactions and insights,” Rama said.
Level 2 status would mean expanding capacity for recreation venues and social gatherings in the case of Cebu City, which currently has a cap of 30 percent capacity for recreational venues, and 40 percent capacity for weddings and birthday celebrations.
The Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry described the downgrade of the whole Cebu to Alert Level 2 as a major positive development for businesses as they enter the fourth quarter.
“The timing is excellent so businesses can have time to warm up and restock their inventory before the November-December buying season. It can provide the much needed impetus to bring back some life in the business community which suffered very dismal off-take in the third quarter,” Yu said.
He said it is time to reopen before long-term scarring and permanent closures take root.
“It’s about time we learned to live with Covid by complying with health protocols while going full throttle in reviving businesses, livelihoods and jobs,” he said.
Yu said efforts to spur vaccine confidence and attain herd immunity before yearend should be intensified.
“We are near victory in herd immunity as far as Cebu island is concerned,” he said.
As of October 17, nearly 47 percent of the eligible population of Metro Cebu had been fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
During Tuesday’s press briefing, Roque said starting October 20, Negros Oriental and Davao Occidental would be under the strictest Alert Level 4.
All contact sports (indoor and outdoor), cinemas and movie houses, casinos, horse racing, cockfighting and operation of cockpits, lottery and betting shops and other gaming establishments are not allowed under Alert Level 4.
Areas under Alert Level 3 are Cavite, Laguna and Rizal in Calabarzon; Siquijor in Central Visayas; and Davao City and Davao del Norte in Davao Region.
Also under Alert Level 2 are Batangas, Quezon Province, Lucena City, Bohol, Davao de Oro, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental.
For Alert Level 1, Roque said the metrics for placing provinces, highly urbanized cities and independent component cities under this level were amended to include the full vaccination of at least 70 percent of the local government units’ A2 (senior citizens), A3 (persons with comorbidities) and eligible population.
Below are the guidelines under the alert level system.
DINE-IN SERVICES
Alert Level 4: 10 percent (indoor), 30 percent (outdoor)
Alert Level 3: 30 percent (indoor), 50 percent (outdoor)
Alert Level 2: 50 percent (indoor), 70 percent (outdoor)
Alert Level 1: 100 percent
TAKE-OUT AND DELIVERY:
100 percent
FILM, MUSIC, TV PRODUCTION
Alert Level 4: 10 percent (indoor), 30 percent (outdoor)
Alert Level 3: 30 percent (indoor), 50 percent (outdoor)
Alert Level 2: 50 percent (indoor), 70 percent (outdoor)
Alert Level 1: 100 percent
SPECIALTY EXAMS AUTHORIZED BY IATF
Alert Level 4: 10 percent
Alert Level 3: 30 percent
Alert Level 2: 50 percent
Alert Level 1: 100 percent
FITNESS, STUDIOS, GYMS, VENUES FOR NON-CONTACT SPORTS
Alert Level 4: 10 percent
Alert Level 3: 30 percent
Alert Level 2: 50 percent
Alert Level 1: 100 percent
No group activities must be conducted and clients and workers must wear masks at all times.
CONTACT SPORTS
Alert Level 4 and 3: Not allowed
Alert Level 2: 50 percent (indoor), 70 percent (outdoor)
Alert Level 1: 100 percent
VENUES FOR MEETINGS, EXHIBITIONS
Alert Level 4: 10 percent (indoor, with Safety Seal certification), 30 percent (outdoor)
Alert Level 3: 30 percent (indoor), 50 percent (outdoor)
Alert Level 2: 50 percent (indoor), 70 percent (outdoor)
Alert Level 1: 100 percent
SOCIAL EVENTS, PARTIES, WEDDING RECEPTIONS
Alert Level 4: 10 percent (indoor, with Safety Seal certification), 30 percent (outdoor)
Alert Level 3: 30 percent (indoor), 50 percent (outdoor)
Alert Level 2: 50 percent (indoor), 70 percent (outdoor)
Alert Level 1: 100 percent
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Alert Level 4: 10 percent (indoor, with Safety Seal), 30 percent (outdoor)
Alert Level 3: 30 percent (indoor), 50 percent (outdoor)
Alert Level 2: 50 percent (indoor), 70 percent (outdoor)
Alert Level 1: 100 percent
AMUSEMENT AND THEME PARKS
Alert Level 4: 10 percent (indoor, with Safety Seal), outdoor (30 percent)
Alert Level 3: 30 percent (indoor), 50 percent (outdoor)
Alert Level 2: 50 percent (indoor), 70 percent (outdoor)
Alert Level 1: 100 percent
RECREATIONAL VENUES SUCH AS INTERNET CAFES, BILLIARD HALLS, BOWLING ALLEYS, SKATING RINKS, ARCHERY HALLS, SWIMMING POOLS AND SIMILAR VENUES
Alert Level 4: 10 percent (indoor, with Safety Seal), 30 percent (outdoor)
Alert Level 3: 30 percent (indoor), 50 percent (outdoor)
Alert Level 2: 50 percent (indoor), 70 percent (outdoor)
Alert Level 1: 100 percent
CINEMAS AND MOVIE HOUSES
Alert Level 4: NOT ALLOWED
Alert Level 3: 30 percent (indoor), 50 percent (outdoor)
Alert Level 2: 50 percent (indoor), 70 percent (outdoor)
Alert Level 1: 100 percent
SALONS AND SPAS
Alert Level 4: 10 percent (indoor), 30 percent (outdoor)
Alert Level 3: 30 percent (indoor), 50 percent (outdoor)
Alert Level 2: 50 percent (indoor), 70 percent (outdoor)
Alert Level 1: 100 percent
CASINOS, COCKFIGHTING, HORSE RACING, LOTTERY AND BETTING SHOPS, OTHER GAMING ESTABLISHMENTS
Alert Levels 4, 3 and 2: NOT ALLOWED (except as may be authorized by IATF or Office of the President)
Alert Level 1: 100 percent
Under the guidelines, all establishments must ensure that their customers and workers are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
The establishments, especially those venues for meetings and exhibitions, parties, tourist attractions, amusement parks and recreational venues, must have a Safety Seal certification issued by government agencies.
Roque said that as of October 18, the Philippines recorded a total of 2,727,286 confirmed Covid-19 cases. Of this number, 68,832 (2.5 percent) have remained active, 2,617,693 (96 percent) have recovered, and 40,761 (1.49 percent) have died. (Laureen Mondoñedo-Ynot, PAC, JOB, CTL)