By Regina Elaine Vendivil

Metro Manila will be placed under Alert Level 3 from October 16-31, 2021 with less stringent quarantine restrictions as approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), Malacañang announced Wednesday, October 13. 

According to the updated IATF quarantine guidelines, in-person classes for basic education are still prohibited, except in schools that were previously approved by the IATF and/or the Office of the President.

However, limited face-to-face classes for higher education and technical-vocational training are allowed under Alert Level 3.

For the first time in over a year, establishments and tourist attractions such as cinemas, swimming pools, theme parks, and museums, along with venues for social gatherings will be allowed to operate.

These establishments may accommodate fully-vaccinated persons with only up to 30% to 40% of their indoor capacity and 50% of their outdoor capacity given that they have a government-issued Safety Seal.

Unvaccinated persons will also be allowed in dine-in restaurants and other indoor services of barbershops and salons.

Additionally, there will be no more age restrictions in establishments except for those imposed by their respective local government units. 

Meanwhile, the provinces of Apayao, Kalinga, Batanes, Bulacan, Bataan, Cavite, Rizal, and Laguna will be placed under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) from October 16 until the end of the month. 

Naga City, Zamboanga City, and Zamboanga del Norte will also be placed under MECQ.

As of October 14, 2021, the Department of Health has recorded a total of 2,690,455 COVID-19 cases with 7,181 new cases and 82,411 active cases.

On the other hand, at least 23.5 million of the country’s 109 million population have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 

References:

ABS-CBN News, & Punzalan, J. (2021, October 13). Metro Manila eases to COVID-19 Alert Level 3. ABS-CBN News; ABS-CBN News. Retrieved from https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/13/21/metro-manila-eases-to-covid-19-alert-level-3 

Department of Health (Philippines). (2021, October 13). COVID-19 updates in the Philippines [Facebook status update]. Facebook. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=236647441835369&set=a.226209786212468

Gregorio, X. (2021, October 13). Palace: Metro Manila to ease to Alert Level 3. The Philippine Star; Philstar.com. Retrieved from https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/10/13/2133897/palace-metro-manila-ease-alert-level-3 

Ranada, P. (2021, October 13). Cinemas, theme parks to reopen with Metro Manila under Alert Level 3. Rappler; Rappler. Retrieved from https://www.rappler.com/nation/metro-manila-alert-level-3-october-16-31-2021