MALACANANG announced on Friday that Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has “provisionally approved” the guidelines for the pilot implementation of a COVID-19 alert level system in Metro Manila.
In a press briefing, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said there will now only be two quarantine classifications in the region: enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), as imposed by the IATF; and general community quarantine (GCQ) based on the city or municipality’s alert level.
The alert level classification of pilot areas will be done weekly unless specified otherwise, read his presentation.
There are four levels in sum, with Level 4 being the highest.
“Kapag Alert Level 4, wala pong dining at saka wala rin pong personal care services at wala rin pong mass gatherings,” said Roque.
However, he admitted details on what activities will be allowed under particular alert levels are still being ironed out.
Areas under the system will execute granular lockdowns based on guidelines from the National Task Force Against COVID-19, said the official, adding these lockdowns will be stricter this time around.
Only healthcare and allied health professionals will be allowed outside in areas under localized lockdowns. Also exempted from tight mobility restrictions are overseas Filipino workers bound for abroad and those returning, assuming they have completed their facility-based quarantine upon arrival.
The same applies to individuals with “other exceptional circumstances” like those needing urgent medical care.
Roque added that households affected by granular lockdowns or families in isolation will receive aid from their respective local governments and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
