APORs need not be vaccinated to pass thru heightened GCQ, even in ECQ areas – Guevarra

Authorized persons outside of residence (APORs) need not be vaccinated to pass through the National Capital Region (NCR) and nearby provinces (NCR Plus) during heightened restrictions under general community quarantine (GCQ) and during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said on Monday, Aug. 2.
“The IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) has taken the position that, at this time when the majority of the people have not been reached by the anti-COVID vaccine, there will be no distinction between APORs who have been vaccinated and those who have not received such vaccines,” Guevarra said.
A member of IATF, Guevarra made the clarification as the government has started imposing travel restrictions and only allows APORs to go in and out of NCR Plus.
The clarification was also issued in the light of President Duterte’s earlier statement that those who have not yet been vaccinated should not leave their homes.
Last week, the IATF decided to impose stricter quarantine measures within NCR and nearby provinces of Cavite, Bulacan, Laguna and Rizal to avert the spread of the more infectious Delta variant of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The NCR has been placed under heightened GCQ until Aug. 5 and will be placed under ECQ from Aug. 6 to 20.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) had said that those considered APORs include those in health and emergency frontline services and uniformed personnel, government officials and employees on official travel, duly-authorized relief and humanitarian assistance actors, persons travelling for medical or humanitarian reasons, persons going to and from the airport, anyone crossing zones for work in permitted industries, and public utility vehicle operators.
The DILG said APORs will have to present to police authorities manning the quarantine control points (QCPs) any of the following identification when traveling: IATF identification cards (IDs) issued by regulatory agencies, valid IDs or pertinent documentation issued by establishments allowed to operate under the current quarantine classification, and other proof that their purpose of travel is allowed.