Presidential and Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Spokesperson Sec. Harry Roque issued a statement on Friday (Sept. 24) that the IATF has escalated Abra, Baguio City, and Bohol to general community quarantine (GCQ) with heightened restrictions and de-escalated Ilocos Norte to GCQ from Sept. 24 to 30, via IATF Resolution No. 140.
At their meeting, the IATF directed its regional IATFs and task forces to monitor the allocation and utilization of rapid antigen tests to further improve the reporting of COVID-19 cases.
The Department of Health-National Capital Region Center for Health Development was directed to facilitate the registration of facilities using rapid antigen kits, and to ensure that antigen line lists be collected and consolidated from health facilities, temporary treatment and monitoring facilities, and their own local government units (LGUs) for submission to the DOH.
In addition, the augmentation of disease surveillance staff and encoders are to be considered to ensure that line lists are generated and submitted on a daily basis.
The IATF also approved the classification of all Commission on Elections (Comelec) officials and employees as authorized persons outside of residence (APORs).
Also considered as APORS during the filing of the Certificates of Nomination and Certificates of Acceptance of Nomination for Party-List Groups; and Certificates of Candidacy and Certificates of Nomination and Acceptance of aspirants for the May 2022 elections are the chairperson/president, or in their absence the secretary-general or authorized representative of the political party, sectoral party, organization, or coalition under the party-list system; aspirants or their authorized representatives; companions as authorized under Comelec Resolution No. 10717; and Comelec officials/personnel in connection with the submission of hard copies of the Certificates of Candidacy and related documents/materials to the Comelec Main Office.
Roque also stated that in connection with the participation of the Philippines in the World Health Organization Solidarity Trial for COVID-19 vaccines, the IATF approved the inclusion of all researchers, workers, members, and affiliate staff of the Solidarity Trial Vaccines Team as healthcare workers, and as such shall be allowed interzonal and intrazonal movement regardless of community quarantine classification and imposition of granular lockdowns.
Target participants and eligible patients who reside in areas under granular lockdowns may be allowed to leave their residences for purposes necessary for the clinical trial but shall not leave the area under granular lockdown.
Meanwhile, the IATF reactivated a Small Technical Working Group (sTWG) to propose refinements and/or amendments to the uniform travel protocols for land, air and sea. The sTWG shall further work on the harmonization of documentary requirements across all local government units (LGUs) and interoperability of available applications, such as StaySafe.PH, S-PaSS, VaxCert, Traze, etc.
During their meeting, the IATF made amendments/changes to some portions of the Guidelines on the Pilot Implementation of Alert Levels System for COVID-19 Response in the National Capital Region related to individual outdoor exercises, where persons not otherwise required to remain in their respective residences maybe allowed individual outdoor exercises. This shall take effect immediately.
Another amendment that allows wakes, funerals, inurnment of the cremains of the COVID-19 deceased, regardless of community quarantine, shall take effect immediately.
All contact sports, indoor or outdoor, shall remain prohibited, except those conducted under a bubble-type set-up.
Also not allowed are personal care establishments offering aesthetic/cosmetic services or procedures, make-up services, spas, reflexology, aesthetics, wellness, and holistic services and other similar procedures, including home services.
These should take effect on Oct. 1, should the pilot implementation be extended beyond Sept. 30.
Finally, the IATF approved the request of the Miss Universe Philippines to hold its grand coronation event in Bohol from Sept. 26 to Oct. 1, subject to health and safety protocols and approval of the Provincial Government of Bohol. (OPS) – jlo
