The government has expanded the sectors allowed to go outside in select areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified GCQ to include children five years old and above.
The latest Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) guidelines limit the allowed outdoor areas to parks, playgrounds, beaches, biking and hiking trails, outdoor tourist sites and attractions as may be defined by the Department of Tourism, outdoor non-contact sports courts and venues, and outdoor dining.
The government also requires adult supervision of children’s outdoor activities to ensure public health protocol compliance. Children are still prohibited from entering mixed-use indoor and outdoor buildings and facilities such as malls.
Local government units (LGUs) were given the discretion to increase the age restriction of children, depending on the COVID-19 situation in their respective jurisdictions.
Fully vaccinated travel
IATF-EID Resolution No. 125 retained the policy allowing intrazonal movement of fully vaccinated senior citizens within GCQ and MGCQ areas, as long as they present valid vaccination cards or certificates of quarantine completion showing their vaccination status from the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ).
In terms of interzonal travel, LGUs are authorized to require RT-PCR testing, or to accept legitimate COVID-19 vaccination cards or certificates of quarantine completion showing their vaccination status from the BOQ.
Select flights OK’d
The government also allowed special commercial flights to repatriate stranded Filipinos in Oman, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and other countries with travel restrictions.
The special flights are subject to the following guidelines, such as the creation of a special working group (SWG) to determine the implementing protocols.
The SWG will be composed of the Department of Health, the Bureau of Quarantine, the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Transportation and its One-Stop Shop, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Department of Tourism.
The guidelines on the implementation of exemptions for the Philippine government and non-Philippine government repatriation shall be followed.
Other activities
Meanwhile, the conduct of Foreign Service Officers Examination (FSOE) oral tests on July 28 to 30 for 26 examinees at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) building has been allowed.
The Binibining Pilipinas 2021 Coronation Night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum has been permitted, but all participants and guests are required to undergo an RT-PCR test 48 hours prior to the event and to follow health protocols during the event. (OPS)/AG- jlo
