President Duterte has ordered the imposition of stricter quarantine restrictions in Metro Manila anew following the reported local transmission of the Delta variant of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the President approved the recommendation of Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to elevate the quarantine classification of the National Capital Region (NCR) from general community quarantine (GCQ) to GCQ “with heightened restrictions.”
Also to be placed under GCQ with heightened restrictions are Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur, which were both previously under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).
Meanwhile, Roque said the IATF relaxed the community quarantine classification of Davao de Oro and Davao del Norte from modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) to GCQ with heightened restrictions.
In areas under GCQ with heightened restrictions, personal care services will be allowed to operate with 30 percent venue capacity and additional 10 percent for the said establishments with a “Safety Seal” issued by the government.
The classification also limits the venue capacity for outdoor tourist attraction to 30 percent capacity, while staycation hotels will still be allowed to operate with up to 100 percent venue capacity.
Other accredited establishments accredited by the Department of Tourism may operate with 30 percent capacity.
Companies are also allowed to have indoor dining with 20 percent capacity, and outdoor dining with 50 percent.
Roque noted children five years old and above will not be allowed to go to outdoor areas in areas under GCQ with heightened restrictions.
Roque said the IATF also downgraded the community quarantine classification of Davao del Sur from MECQ to GCQ.
The said new community quarantine classifications will take effect from July 23, 2021, until the end of the month, according to Roque.
To further halt the spread of the Delta variant, which is being blamed for the surge of Covid-19 cases in several countries like Indonesia and Malaysia, the IATF also reiterated the stricter implementation of the Prevent-Detect-Isolate-Treat-Reintegrate (PDITR) Strategy of the government.
Roque said the IATF also encouraged companies to develop and convert more outdoor spaces into temporary outdoor weekend markets and dining spaces and permanently accessible urban green spaces, outdoor recreational spaces and public sanitation facilities.
On Thursday, the Department of Health confirmed the community transmission of the Delta variant.
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