After a month, the National Capital Region (NCR) will be downgraded to Alert Level 3 starting Saturday, October 16.
This is after the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases saw that the situation of COVID-19 throughout Manila is improving as well as the increase in the vaccination rate.
“Dahil nasa moderate ang [health care utilization rate] at moderate din ang ating 2-week attack rate at daily attack rate ay pupuwede na ngang mababa sa Level 3 ang alert level sa Metro Manila,” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.
“Going to the provinces, you would need to check with your LGU what the requirements are,” said Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya.
The allowable capacity of businesses under Alert Level 3 will also increase, to up to 30 percent indoor venue capacity, but only for those who have already completed their vaccinations.
The outdoor venue capacity is half or 50 percent, whether vaccinated or not.
It includes meetings, conferences, and exhibitions and allowed venues for social events such as parties, wedding receptions, and birthdays.
It also includes tourist attractions such as libraries, museums, exhibits, parks, plazas or gardens, amusements or theme parks, and recreational venues such as internet cafes, billiards, skating rinks, swimming pools, and cinemas.
Guidelines under Alert Level 3
Also covered is the conduct of licensure, entrance or qualifying examinations.
The following are also allowed in the same capacity:
- Religious gatherings, including funerals and burials of those who did not die due to COVID-19
- Dine-in services
- Personal care establishments such as barbershops, hair salons and nail spas
- Aesthetic and cosmetic services such as spa
- Fitness studios, gyms and venues for individual and non-contact sports
- Film, music and TV productions are also allowed, in accordance with guidelines to be issued by the agencies.
The World Health Organization supports Metro Manila’s lowering to Alert Level 3.
It said it is important to be careful in balancing the reopening of the economy and the ongoing threat of COVID-19.
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