The government will be imposing stricter quarantine protocols in Abra, Baguio City and Bohol, but relax the restrictions in Ilocos Norte.
During its meeting on Thursday, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) decided through a resolution to place the three areas under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) with heightened restrictions amid concerns on the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in the said areas.
In a statement, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said prior to the said decision Abra and Baguio City were initially under GCQ, while Bohol was initially under Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ)
In the case of Ilocos Norte, its classification of Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) was downgraded to just GCQ.
The new community qurantine classifications in the four areas will take effect from Sept. 24 to 30, 2021.
Roque said the following rules will apply in areas under GCQ with heightened restrictions: indoor dine-in services may operate at 20 percent venue or seating capacity, while al-fresco or outdoor dine-in services at 50 percent venue or seating capacity.
The following activities will also be allowed in the said areas, but only with 30 percent venue capacity: beauty salons, beauty parlors, barbershops, and nail spas; and outdoor tourist attractions.
“Business establishments with Safety Seal Certifications shall be allowed to operate at an additional 10 percent points beyond the prescribed on-site capacity or venue/seating capacity, whichever is applicable,” Roque said.
Activities which will not be allowed in the said areas are meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions events and social events in venue establishments; indoor sports courts and venues and indoor tourist attractions.
Roque said specialized markets of the Department of Tourism (DOT), such as staycations without age restrictions, depending on the restrictions and protocols imposed by the agency.
Religious gatherings will also be allowed up to 10 percent of the venue capacity, but it can be increased to 30 percent depending on the discretion of the concerned local government unit (LGU).
“Gatherings for necrological services, wakes, inurnment and funerals for those who died of causes other than COVID-19 and for the cremains of the COVID-19 deceased shall be allowed but limited to immediate family members,” Roque said.
Interzonal travel shall be allowed subject to restrictions of the LGU of destination.
“Point-to-point travel to areas under GCQ and MGCQ shall be allowed without age restrictions subject to an Reverse Transcription – Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test-before-travel requirement for those below 18 years old and above 65, and other protocols and restrictions as may be imposed by the DOT and the LGU of destination,” Roque said.
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