The government has relaxed the two-week strict lockdown in Metro Manila and four nearby provinces as authorities stepped up hospital capacity to accommodate patients infected with the coronavirus.
Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal have been placed under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), the second-highest in the country's four-level community quarantine, from April 12 to April 30, 2021. Three others places that have also been put under MECQ are Santiago City, Quirino, and Abra have also been put under MECQ.
The last time MECQ was enforced in Metro Manila was during a two-week medical timeout in August 2020. It was first imposed in Metro Manila, Laguna and Cebu City from May 16 to 30, 2020. At the time, people living in MECQ were required to stay at home except for going to work and getting essential goods. Public transportation and certain businesses were allowed to open but at limited capacity.
Given the latest decision, here are some details about MECQ to assist people on how to keep safe during this period.
1. What is MECQ?
Under the government's amended guidelines as of April 3, MECQ refers to the transition phase between ECQ and GCQ, when the following temporary measures are relaxed and become less necessary.
These include "stringent limits on movement and transportation of people, strict regulation of operating industries, provision of food and essential services, and heightened presence of uniformed personnel to enforce community quarantine protocols."
2.. Can I leave my house during MECQ?
The government requires a strict home quarantine in all households. People may only go out of their houses if they will access essential goods and services as well as go to work in offices allowed during MECQ.
People below 18 years old and above 65 years old, those with immunodeficiency, comorbidity, or other health risks, and pregnant women shall be required to remain in their residences at all times. They can leave the house for essential needs.
3. Which establishments, persons or activities can operate or work during MECQ?
All industries allowed during ECQ under full, 50 percent or skeleton workforce shall be allowed at full on-site capacity.
Among these businesses are public and private hospitals; health, emergency and frontline services; manufacturers of medicines and medical equipment; industries involved in agriculture; logistic service providers; media establishments; dental, rehabilitation, optometry and other medical clinics; veterinary clinics; banks; capital markets, water supply and sanitation services; energy sector; telecommunication companies; airline and aircraft maintenance; funeral and embalming services; security personnel; printing establishments; establishments engaged in repair and maintenance of machinery and equipment, for households and essential permitted establishments; establishments engaged in repair and maintenance of motorized and non-motorized vehicles; leasing of real and personal properties; employment activities; teachers, professors and other staff for purposes of conducting online/offline, and flexible classes, completion of grades, and processing of student credentials, requirements and documents; lawyers; and establishments necessary for the buying and selling of consumer goods or services online.
Those industries that were not allowed in ECQ, however, shall be allowed at 50 percent on-site capacity.
4. Are mass gatherings allowed?
The government prohibits gatherings outside residences except for those essential for the provision of health services, government services, or humanitarian activities. Gatherings at home with any person outside of the immediate household are also prohibited.
5. Can I go to church and hear mass?
The government allows religious gatherings up to 10 percent of the venue capacity subject to health protocols. The local government unit may raise the venue capacity to 30 percent.
Gatherings for necrological services and funerals for those who died of causes other than COVID-19 shall be allowed but limited to immediate family members.
6. Are individual outdoor exercises allowed?
Yes. People can jog, run or bike within the barangay, purok, subdivision, and/or village.
Health standards such as wearing face masks and physical distancing must still be observed.
7. Can I go to the gym, barbershop, or beauty salon?
Not yet. Indoor sports courts or venues, fitness studios, gyms, spas or other indoor leisure centers or facilities, and swimming pools are among the industries not allowed to operate during MECQ.
Personal care services including beauty salons, beauty parlors, medical
aesthetic clinics, cosmetic or derma clinics, make-up salons, nail spas, reflexology, aesthetics, wellness and holistic centers, and other similar establishments; acupuncture and electrocautery establishments, and massage therapy including sports therapy establishment, are also prohibited.
Home service for these activities is likewise not permitted.
8. Are bars, casinos, amusement parks open during MECQ?
No. The government still prohibits the following establishments from operating during MECQ:
- Entertainment venues with live performers such as karaoke bars, bars, clubs, concert halls, theaters, and cinemas;
-Recreational venues such as internet cafes, billiard halls, amusement arcades, bowling alleys, and similar venues;
-Amusement parks or theme parks, fairs/peryas, kid amusement industries such as playgrounds, playroom and kiddie rides;
- Outdoor sports courts or venues for contact sports, scrimmages, games, or activities;
- Casinos, horse racing, cockfighting and operation of cockpits, lottery and betting shops, and other gaming establishments except for the draws conducted by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office;
-Indoor visitor or tourist attractions, libraries, archives, museums, galleries, and cultural shows and exhibits;
-Outdoor tourist attractions.
- Venues for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions
9. Can I eat inside a restaurant?
No. The government prohibits indoor dine-in services of food preparation establishments such as commissaries, restaurants, and eateries.
10. Is public transportation operational during MECQ?
Road, rail, maritime, and aviation sectors of public transportation shall be allowed to operate at reduced capacity based on the guidelines of the Department of Transportation. The government encourages people to consider biking as an alternative form of transportation.
The movement of cargo/delivery vehicles, as well as vehicles used by public utility companies, shall be unhampered.
11. Will there be a nighttime curfew?
Yes. Uniform curfew hours will be imposed by local government units. Workers, cargo vehicles, public transportation, and operating hours of permitted establishments, however, shall not be restricted by such curfew.