FYI: Restrictions Are Eased in Metro Manila under Alert Level 3

Quarantine restrictions in Metro Manila, including health protocols, will be relaxed as the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) lowers the area’s alert level to Level 3 from October 16 to 31. The decision to drop the alert level is due to Metro Manila’s vaccination rate of 80% of the eligible population. Octa Research group also classified the National Capital Region (NCR) as moderate risk via their metrics [1].

In addition, entertainment and other indoor recreational facilities are now allowed to re-open for the first time since the pandemic began last year. Cinemas, swimming pools, museums, libraries, theme parks, theaters, and other tourist attractions are now allowed to operate for up to 30% of its indoor venue capacity for fully vaccinated customers. In comparison, it’s 50% capacity for outdoor facilities if all staff is fully vaccinated [2]. These venues can also be used for parties, debuts, weddings, and other social gatherings.

Unvaccinated folks are allowed to eat indoors and outdoors under Alert Level 3. Also, personal grooming services are accessible to unvaccinated individuals in indoor and outdoor areas.

Apart from these, schools will reopen for the limited face-to-face classes for technical vocational training and higher education with health and safety protocols.

The IATF will also release guidelines for children outside their homes, according to San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora last October 17. The current IATF resolution allows children below 18 years old to go outside to buy essential goods, exercise, or health appointments. However, Zamora is firm in prohibiting children in malls. Dine-in is also not allowed for minors since it requires them to remove their face masks [3].

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte also directly addressed her constituents by imposing guidelines for business owners when the government lowered the alert level. She guarantees that safety standards will be strictly inspected and monitored by the city’s Department of Building Official (DBO) and Business Permits and Licensing Department (BPLD) [4]

Metro Manila is currently recording fewer cases of COVID-19 cases in the last few weeks. OCTA Research group also predicts that Metro Manila might reach a daily record of 5,000 to 6,000 COVID-19 cases at the end of October. This prediction was derived from the visible lessening of daily COVID-19 cases in the Metro, which used to be over 10,000. Currently, the 7-day average is 8,400 cases. According to the Department of Health data, the hospitalization rate went down, which records 47%. However, the ICU utilization rate remains high due to the Delta variant [5].

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