Metro Manila will be placed under Alert Level 4 starting Sept. 16 until Sept. 30, to facilitate the pilot run of IATF’s granular lockdowns. Getting more confused about these new rules? Let us try to break it down for you.
In this article, you’ll read:
- IATF Granular Lockdown explained
- Answers to frequently asked questions about the lockdown
As the threat of the Covid-19 virus continues to spread around the country, parents are worried and confused about how the new and almost ever-changing rules and restrictions in their area (especially in Metro Manila) affect them. Here’s a quick explainer on the recent resolution of the Inter-Agency Task Force on how to prevent the spread of the virus – granular lockdown.
What is a granular lockdown?
According to the new guidelines, a granular lockdown or a micro-level quarantine for areas identified as “critical zones” by the local government unit (LGU) may be declared “regardless of Alert Level.”
Simply put, the LGU has the authority to declare a lockdown in their respective municipalities. IATF Granular lockdowns must last for at least 14 days.
During the lockdown period, the only people allowed to move within, into and out of area are the following:
- health care workers and non-health personnel working in hospitals, laboratories, and dialysis facilities “if their institutions are unable to provide accommodation”
- uniformed personnel tasked to enforce the granular lockdown
- other people in need of medical emergencies
Households within areas under granular lockdown will be provided assistance by their respective local government units and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The pilot test guidelines also provide that the Philippine National Police shall ensure peace and order at all times, and that the security protocols are maintained in lockdown areas.
The government is also encouraging private companies to allow work-from-home for their employees if their area is under IATF granular lockdown.
Image from Freepik
What this new Alert Level system is all about
Just when we’ve kind of figured out how ECQ, MECQ, and GCQ mean, the government has decided to introduce another set of guidelines as a way to reduce the spread of the virus. Now, it’s all about Alert Levels. This replaces the previous classification of quarantine rules in the country.
According to Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, this new system is more relaxed with age mobility restrictions and provides some perks to fully-vaccinated people.
You might have seen on the news, “Metro Manila is placed under Alert Level 4.”
To facilitate the implementation of IATF granular lockdown in certain areas of the metro, all the mayors of the different municipalities agreed to put their towns into Alert Level 4.
So, what does that mean for you and your family? What are the things you are allowed and prohibited to do?
Under the new guidelines, the new community quarantine classifications will have five Alert Levels that would determine the activities allowed in cities and/or municipalities.
These include:
-
Alert Level 1
This refers to areas wherein case transmission is low and decreasing, total bed utilization rate, and intensive care unit utilization rate is low.
-
Alert Level 2
This refers to areas wherein case transmission is low and decreasing, healthcare utilization is low, or case counts are low but increasing, or case counts are low and decreasing but total bed utilization rate and intensive care unit utilization rate is increasing.
-
Alert Level 3
Refers to areas wherein case counts are high and/or increasing, with total bed utilization rate and intensive care unit utilization rate at increasing utilization.
-
Alert Level 4
Refers to areas wherein case counts are high and/or increasing, with total bed utilization rate and intensive care unit utilization rate are high.
-
Alert Level 5
This refers to areas wherein case counts are alarming, with total bed utilization rate and intensive care unit utilization rate at a critical level.
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Frequently asked questions on the IATF Granular Lockdown and Active Level system
Image from Freepik
With the implementation of the new Alert Level Guidelines, parents are still wondering how it will affect the daily lives of their family.
Will children be allowed to go outside? Can they go to work? Will there be public transportation available?
To make it easier, we’ve come up with a quick table to help you navigate what’s allowed and what’s prohibited under a certain alert level:
Alert Level |
Who’s allowed to go out? |
Interzonal Travel |
Exercise |
What establishments are open? |
Dining in Restaurants |
Religious Gatherings |
What else is allowed |
| 1 | All ages are allowed to move around, subject to LGU rules | Allowed, subject to LGU rules | Allowed for all ages | All | Fully operational | Operational Fully | Fully operational |
| 2 | All ages are allowed to move around, subject to LGU rules | Allowed, subject to LGU rules | Allowed for all ages | All | 50% capacity with additional 10% if the place has a safety seal | 50% capacity with additional 10% if the place has a safety seal | Allowed at 50% venue capacity with additional 10% if the place has a safety seal: entertainment centers like karaoke bars, cinemas, indoor and outdoor theme parks, and playgrounds |
3 |
All ages are allowed to move around, subject to LGU rules |
Allowed, subject to LGU rules |
Allowed for all ages |
All except for entertainment centers like karaoke bars, cinemas, indoor and outdoor theme parks, and playgrounds |
30% of venue capacity with additional 10% of the place has a safety seal |
Outdoors at 30% capacity, indoors at 10% capacity only for fully vaccinated massgoers and ministers. |
Allowed at 30% capacity with additional 10% if the place has a safety seal:gyms, tourist attractions, libraries, museums, casinos, concerts and social events |
| 4 | Minors (18 below), senior citizens (65 above), pregnant women and persons with comorbidities must stay at home (except for medical emergencies, obtaining essential goods and work in permitted industries) | Allowed for persons not under stay at home orders | Allowed for all ages but only near residence | All except for social and entertainments and recreational venues, social events, indoor sports and personal care services | Al fresco dining at 30%, indoor at 10% and only open to fully-vaccinated customers. All restaurant staff must be fully-vaccinated as well. | Outdoors at 30% capacity, indoors at 10% capacity only for fully vaccinated massgoers and ministers. | All except for those mentioned in prohibited industries and venues |
| 5 | Minors (18 below), senior citizens (65 above), pregnant women and persons with comorbidities must stay at home (except for medical emergencies, obtaining essential goods and work in permitted industries) | Allowed for authorized persons outside of residence (APORS) | Not allowed | Essential industries and establishments like hospitals, groceries, pharmacies, vets and export-oriented businesses | Take out and delivery only | Virtual only | None |
Face-to-face classes?
In Alert Level 4, face-to-face classes are still prohibited.
Public Transportation
According to Interior Undersecretary Epimaco Densing, public transportation will be fully functional in all alert levels except for areas under granular lockdown.
Who will make the announcement?
The Department of Health will make the announcement of the alert level for each area or municipality. However, it is IATF who will declare if a particular area will be under alert level 5.
So while the country continues to navigate through this pandemic, it would be best to follow the guidelines and safety protocols issued by the government to keep you and your family safe.
Source:
Inquirer, Rappler, Official Gazette