By Alec Go
President Rodrigo Duterte has approved placing the National Capital Region (NCR) and its surrounding provinces Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal under Enhanced Community (ECQ) amid the spike in COVID-19 cases.
The ECQ will be effective on Monday, March 29 to April 4, 2021, Presidential Spokesperson Harry confirmed Saturday evening while relaying the assurance of aid for those who will be affected.
Based on IATF-EID Resolution No. 106-A, strengthened implementation of prevention and detection measures will be imposed, including the establishment of Dharavi-like centers in communities to monitor and trace cases.
It emphasized that 95% of close contacts must be traced and quarantined within 24 hours of case notification. Sec. Roque said at least 500,000 antigen test kits will be acquired to sustain expanded coverage of testing.
“Sa madaling salita, homeliners tayo ulit. Sa bahay po tayo, except kung magtatrabaho tayo sa bukas na industriya (In short, we are homeliners again. We stay at home except if we are workers of allowed industries),” Sec. Roque said.
Restrictions, allowed activities
Essential and priority construction projects are given permission to operate, while public transportation will continue its operations subject to the guidelines concerning capacity to be issued by the transportation department.
Mass gatherings, including indoor, of more than 10 individuals are strictly prohibited. Gatherings for weddings, funerals, and baptism are limited to immediate household members
Individuals outside the 18 to 65 years-old age range, pregnant women, and those with health risks are not allowed to step out of their homes. Curfew hours are likewise expanded to 6PM to 5AM, but authorized persons outside of residence (APOR) are exempted.
Malacanang clarified that travel passes are not required.
Open establishments and capacity
Essential stores such as groceries, pharmacies, and hardware, and restaurants for takeout and delivery are allowed to operate.
Facilities providing frontline health services, those in agriculture, and delivery courier services are granted full operational capacity. Meanwhile, 50% operational capacity is given to private establishments providing essential goods and services, media establishments, and workers accredited by DOTr.
Skeletal work arrangement is set for other medical services including dental and optometry clinics, banks, telecom companies, manufacturing companies, funeral services, security, real estate which is limited to leasing, capital markets, water supply and sanitation, energy and power, airlines, PPC, PSA, BPOs, expert businesses, printing press, humanitarian organizations, NGOs, and repair and maintenance of machinery and equipment.
The vaccination program of the government will push through and will maximize the masterlisting and inoculation of workers in frontline services.
The government last March 21 initially ordered tightened restrictions in the National Capital Region (NCR) and its neighboring provinces from March 22 to April 4 following the rise of COVID-19 cases in the past weeks.
A unified curfew was also implemented in all cities and municipalities within the NCR prior to this. However, the Department of Health (DOH) recorded the highest number of daily cases on March 26 at 9,838.
Several hospitals also announced full capacity of their dedicated COVID-19 beds, including the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) and Pasay City General Hospital (PCGH).
