General Community Quarantine Guidelines

The government announced today the recommendations and guidelines of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease for the implementation of General Community Quarantine or GCQ.

Palace Spokesperson Harry Roque said the provinces under the GCQ are the areas with a low to a moderate number of COVID-19 cases.

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Guidelines on General Community Quarantine

  • Workers under sector one, two, and three can work through work in a phased system
  • Children aged 0-20 and elderly aged 60 and above are still urged to stay home
  • Mall opening would be allowed except for leisure shops
  • Priority and essential construction projects could resume
  • Public transportation could resume at reduced capacity
  • Local Government Units could impose curfew during the night for non-workers
  • Social Amelioration Program budget for these provinces may be reallocated to those who are still under the enhanced community quarantine
  • Higher Educational Institutions are allowed to finish and give credentials to students
  • 100% closure of schools because virus transmitters are majorly the young people aged 0-20
  • Late re-opening of classes on September except for online learning
  • 100% closure of leisure facilities such as fitness gym and gaming shops
  • Prohibition of tourism and gatherings including religious conferences

Also read: List of provinces under General Community Quarantine

The IATF also gave options per industry for areas that could be shifted to GCQ from being under ECQ after evaluation:

  • Airports and ports could open but only for transportation of goods only
  • 100% opening of agriculture, poultry, and fishery industry as well as the manufacturing and food packaging
  • Opening of food retail and restaurants but for delivery and take-out only
  • Opening of hospitals, logistics, water, energy, internet, telecommunication, and media offices
  • 50% on-site work and 50% work from home operations
  • Opening of financial services, BPO, and other non-leisure retail trade and services

Areas under the Enhanced Community Quarantine until May 15

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  • NCR– Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Quezon City, Marikina, Pasig, Taguig, Makati, Manila, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Pateros, and Muntinlupa
  • Region III- Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales
  • Region IV-A- Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon

Areas subject for rechecking

  • Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Albay, Catanduanes, Antique
  • Mindanao- Davao del Norte, Davao City
  • Iloilo, Cebu, Cebu City

As of April 23, the Philippines has recorded 6,981 cases, 462 deaths, and 722 recoveries.