President Duterte has approved bringing back the National Capital Region (NCR) to general community quarantine (GCQ) with heightened restrictions and changed the quarantine classifications of other areas, Malacañang revealed.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque made the statement following the declaration of the Department of Health (DOH) of the local transmission of the more contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) this week.
In a statement on Friday, July 23, Roque said Duterte approved the recommendation of the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to place the following areas under GCQ with heightened restrictions:
- NCR
- Ilocos Norte
- Ilocos Sur
- Davao de Oro
- Davao del Norte
NCR was previously under normal GCQ while both Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur were previously under the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ). Davao de Oro and Davao del Norte were previously under the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).
Meanwhile, Roque said Davao del Sur, which was also under MECQ, was placed under the normal GCQ.
All new quarantine classifications will be effective until July 31, 2021.
For areas placed under GCQ with heightened restrictions, Roque said children five years old and above will no longer be allowed to go to select outdoor areas.
The IATF has allowed children aged five and up to go to select outdoor areas in GCQ and MGCQ areas to help their physical and mental health. However, Metro Manila mayors appealed to the body to suspend the policy following the surge of COVID-19 cases.
On Thursday, independent research group OCTA reported that the COVID-19 reproduction rate in Metro Manila climbed to 1.15.
Heightened restrictions guidelines
Under GCQ with heightened restrictions, only essential travel is allowed but public transportation remains operational. Individuals aged 18 to 65 will also be allowed to leave their homes.
Also, indoor dine-in services will be limited to 20 percent venue or seating capacity while outdoor or al fresco dining shall be at 50 percent venue or seating capacity.
Outdoor tourist attractions, on the other hand, may open at 30 percent with strict adherence to minimum public health standards. Specialized markets of the Department of Tourism (DOT) are also allowed.
Religious gatherings and gatherings for necrological services, wakes, inurnment, and funerals for those who died of causes other than COVID-19 shall be allowed up to 10 percent of the venue capacity.
Also continued to be allowed in GCQ areas with heightened restrictions are non-contact sports, games, scrimmages held outdoors; and personal care services that allow for services not requiring mask removals, such as salons, parlors, beauty clinics, and others at 30 percent capacity.
Meanwhile, the following are prohibited under GCQ with heightened restrictions:
- Entertainment venues such as bars, concert halls, theaters
- Recreational venues such as internet cafes, billiards halls, arcades
- Amusement parks, fairs, playgrounds, kiddie rides
- Indoor sports courts and venues and indoor tourist attractions
- Venues for meetings, conferences, exhibitions
- Interzonal travel except those conducted by Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APORs)