Dining and personal care services, which are considered as "high-risk" activities, are not allowed in areas under the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), the Department of Health (DOH) said.
Metro Manila and the provinces of Bataan and Laguna are set to be placed under MECQ starting Saturday, Aug. 21 until Aug. 31.
"Under this quarantine classification, high-risk activities such as dine-in services, whether indoor or al fresco, and personal care services are still not allowed. Religious gatherings will also remain online during the MECQ," the DOH said in a statement on Friday, Aug. 20.
"Employers are reminded to implement a work from home set-up if possible, improve health measures in workplaces, and coordinate with local government units for facilitation of immediate contact tracing and testing for suspected COVID-19 cases," it added.
Placing these areas under MECQ does not mean that restrictions will be loosened, the DOH said.
"This decision of the IATF acknowledged that the country cannot always rely on quarantine classifications as it is costly to the economy and livelihood of people. People need to return to a safer and smarter workplace, and act prudently," it said.
"However, the DOH emphasizes that this does not mean lifting restrictions but rather, focusing on targeted restrictions and monitoring granular lockdowns and specific high-risk activities," it added.
The DOH said that it is necessary to implement "targeted and recalibrated actions" to curb the rising number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases.
Based on DOH projection, active cases in Metro Manila "may reach up to 66,403 by Aug. 31 and 269,694 by Sept. 30 when ECQ will be extended for two more weeks while maintaining current levels of vaccination, PDITR (prevent, detect, isolate, treat, reintegrate) strategies, and compliance to minimum public health standards," said DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire in the same statement.
"Meanwhile, intensifying our efforts in these strategies while under MECQ may result in 83,921 active cases by Aug. 31 and 158,489 active cases in NCR by Sept. 30,” she added.
As of Aug. 19, Metro Manila has 32,039 active COVID-19 cases, based on the DOH COVID-19 tracker.
The DOH urged the public to strictly follow the health protocols and stay at home except for essential activities.
“We will continue to see a dramatic increase in cases in the coming days and this is not the time to be complacent. Adherence to the minimum public health standards is still our best defense against the virus," said Vergeire.
"Early consultation and testing is key to cutting the transmission within households, communities, and workplaces,” she added.