By Julia Marie Mangmang and Isabella Magno

Metro Manila will be placed on Alert Level 2 for COVID-19 starting November 5 until November 21, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque announced on Thursday, November 4. 

Putting NCR on Alert Level 2 tempers quarantine restrictions and allows businesses to operate from 50% to 70% capacity. 

Initially, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases (IATF) planned on keeping Metro Manila on Alert Level 3 until November 14; however, with NCR’s COVID-19 average daily attack rate dropping to 7%, the IATF gave the go signal to loosen the quarantine rules. 

This announcement was made after the Philippines recorded its second straight day below the 2,000-mark, documenting 1,766 new COVID-19 cases only on Thursday. 

In addition, the IATF is requiring all its regional branches under the new alert level to submit weekly feedback for proper monitoring. 

“Escalations, on the other hand, may be done at any time in the middle of the implementation period as warranted while de-escalations can only be done at the end of the two-week assessment period,” Roque said while announcing that alert level assignments shall be reported every 15th and 30th of the month starting December 1.

Moreover, the country’s independent pandemic monitor Octa Research group supported the notion of placing NCR under Alert Level 2 after its 16 cities and lone municipality are considered at low risk of having an increase in COVID-19 infections. 

Compared to the 50% outdoor capacity and 30% indoor capacity for fully vaccinated citizens under alert level 3, the new alert level system permits 70% indoor and 50% outdoor capacity for all citizens, vaccinated or not.

Aside from that, the IATF has also granted contact sports, amusement industries such as playgrounds, places with performers and audiences, and limited face-to-face classes—subject to approval from the Office of the President—to reopen and resume. 

References:

CNN Philippines Staff. (2021, November 04). NCR to ease to Alert Level 2 starting Nov. 5. CNN Philippines. https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/11/4/NCR-to-ease-to-Alert-Level-2-starting-Nov.-5.html

Galvez, D. (2021, November 04). NCR eased to Alert Level 2 starting Nov. 5. Inquirer.net. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1510629/ncr-eased-to-alert-level-2-starting-nov-5

Quismorio, E. (2021, November 05). Here are the things you can do under alert level 2 that you couldn’t do before. Manila Bulletin. https://mb.com.ph/2021/11/05/here-are-the-things-you-can-do-under-alert-level-2-that-you-couldnt-do-before/