By Pearl Gumapos
The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Wednesday (Oct. 13) approved the guidelines on the implementation of Alert Level System for COVID-19 response in chosen pilot areas, placing the National Capital Region under Alert Level 3 from Oct. 16 to 31.
According to the guidelines, intrazonal and interzonal travel shall be subject to reasonable restrictions based on age and comorbidities.
Meanwhile, the following are not allowed:
- Face-to-face or in-person classes for basic education
- Contact sports, except those conducted under a bubble-type setup as provided for under relevant guidelines adopted by the IATF, Games and Amusement Board, and PSC, and approved by LGU
- Funfairs/peryas and kid amusement industries (playgrounds, playroom, kiddie rides)
- Venues with live voice or wind-instrument performers and audiences (karaoke bars, clubs, concert halls, theaters)
- Casinos, horse racing, cockfighting and operation of cockpits, lottery and betting shops, and other gaming establishments except as may be authorized by IATF or OP
- Gatherings in residences with individuals not belonging to the same household
As for venues, indoor venues shall operate at 30% capacity, allowing only vaccinated individuals to stay inside, while outdoor venues shall operate at 50% capacity.
All workers or employees of these establishments must be fully vaccinated.
The following are included in the venue list:
- Venues for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE)
- Permitted venues for social events (parties, wedding receptions, engagement parties, wedding anniversaries, debut, birthday parties, family reunions, bridal or baby showers)
- Visitor or tourist attractions (libraries, archives, museums, galleries, exhibits, parks, plazas, public gardens, scenic viewpoints or overlooks)
- Amusement parks or theme parks
- Recreational venues (internet cafes, billiard halls, amusement, arcades, bowling alleys, skating rinks, archery halls, swimming pools, similar venues)
- Cinemas and movie houses
- Licensure or entrance/qualifying examinations administered by their respective government agency, and specialty examinations authorized by IATF
- In-person religious gatherings; gatherings for necrological services, wakes, inurnment, and funerals for those who died of causes other than COVID-19 and for the cremains of the COVID-19 deceased
- Dine-in services in food preparation establishments (kiosks, commissaries, restaurants, and eateries, subject to DTI sector-specific protocols)
- Personal care establishments (barbershops, hair spas, hair salons, and nail spas, and those offering aesthetic/cosmetic services or procedures, make-up services, salons, spas, reflexology, and other similar procedures including home service options)
- Fitness studios, gyms, and venues for individual non-contact exercise and sports. Patrons/ clients and workers/employees wear face masks at all times, no group activities are conducted
- Film, music, and TV production subject to the joint guidelines as may be issued by DTI, DOLE, DOH
