The possibility of raising Metro Manila's quarantine status to Alert Level 4 is being studied as authorities move to cap a surge that believed to be cased by the Omicron coronavirus variant, Health Sec. Francisco Duque said Saturday.
Alert Level 4 means businesses operate at as little as 10% capacity and movement is limited to essentials. It's the equivalent of MECQ or Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine under the old system. Both Alert Level 4 and MECQ are one step below lockdown.
Raising Alert Level 4 will also mean a possible return of mandatory wearing of face shields in public places.
“‘Yun ang kinakatakutan natin. Pinaghahandaan natin ‘yan hindi malayo ang NCR (National capital Region) ipasya na mag-Alert Level 4,” Duque told dzBB radio. Health workers are getting sick, which could limit the government's capacity to respond to the surge, he said.
Presidential Adviser on Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion told ONE News that "there are talks about Alert Level 4" but the direction is "towards Alert Level 3".
Metro Manila, surrounding provinces and some cities have been placed under Alert Lelvel 3 until Jan. 15. Alert Level 4 was last put in place towards the end of 2021, when there was a Delta surge. Case loads eased towards Christmas.
Average daily infections in the past week have surged 11 fold versus the previous seven-day period, bringing total cases to over 2.88 million, and deaths to more than 51,700, the second highest number of cases and casualties in Southeast Asia, next to Indonesia.
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Here's a guide to what's allowed and what's not allowed under the five-step Alert Level system.
Indoor dine-in services
*limited to the fully vaccinated
Alert Level 4: 10%
Alert Level 3: 30%
Alert Level 2: 50%
Alert Level 1: 100%
Outdoor dining
*with fully vaccinated workers
Alert Level 4: 30%
Alert Level 3: 50%
Alert Level 2: 70%
Alert Level 1: 100%
Indoor film, music, and television production
*with fully vaccinated workers
Alert Level 4: 10%
Alert Level 3: 30%
Alert Level 2: 50%
Alert Level 1: 100%
Outdoor film, music, and television production
*with fully vaccinated workers
Alert Level 4: 30%
Alert Level 3: 50%
Alert Level 2: 70%
Alert Level 1: 100%
Specialty exams authorized by IATF
*limited to the fully vaccinated
Alert Level 4: 10%
Alert Level 3: 30%
Alert Level 2: 50%
Alert Level 1: 100%
Indoor fitness studios, gyms, venues for non-contact sports
*limited to the fully vaccinated
*no group activities
Alert Level 4: 10%
Alert Level 3: 30%
Alert Level 2: 50%
Alert Level 1: 100%
Outdoor fitness studios, gyms, venues for non-contact sports
*limited to the fully vaccinated
*no group activities
Alert Level 4: 30%
Alert Level 3: 50%
Alert Level 2: 70%
Alert Level 1: 100%
Indoor contact sports
*limited to the fully vaccinated
Alert Level 4: Not allowed
Alert Level 3: Not allowed except for authorized sports bubbles
Alert Level 2: 50%
Alert Level 1:100%
Outdoor contact sports
*limited to the fully vaccinated
Alert Level 4: Not allowed
Alert Level 3: Not allowed except for authorized sports bubbles
Alert Level 2: 70%
Alert Level 1: 100%
Indoor venues for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions
*limited to the fully vaccinated
Alert Level 4: 10%
Alert Level 3: 30%
Alert Level 2: 50%
Alert Level 1: 100%
Outdoor venues for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions
*with fully vaccinated workers
Alert Level 4: 30%
Alert Level 3: 50%
Alert Level 2: 70%
Alert Level 1:100%
Indoor venues for social events such as parties, weddings, etc.
*limited to the fully vaccinated
Alert Level 4: 10%
Alert Level 3: 30%
Alert Level 2: 50%
Alert Level 1: 100%
Outdoor venues for social events such as parties, weddings, etc.
*with fully vaccinated workers
Alert Level 4: 30%
Alert Level 3: 50%
Alert Level 2: 70%
Alert Level 1: 100%
Indoor tourist attractions such as museums, libraries, galleries
*limited to the fully vaccinated
Alert Level 4: 10%
Alert Level 3: 30%
Alert Level 2: 50%
Alert Level 1: 100%
Outdoor tourist attractions
*with fully vaccinated workers
Alert Level 4: 30%
Alert Level 3: 50%
Alert Level 2: 70%
Alert Level 1: 100%
Indoor amusement parks and theme parks
*limited to the fully vaccinated
Alert Level 4: 10%
Alert Level 3: 30%
Alert Level 2: 50%
Alert Level 1:100%
Outdoor amusement parks
*with fully vaccinated workers
Alert Level 4: 30%
Alert Level 3: 50%
Alert Level 2: 70%
Alert Level 1: 100%
Indoor recreational venues such as internet cafes, bowling alleys, billiard halls, swimming pools
*limited to the fully vaccinated
Alert Level 4: 10%
Alert Level 3: 30%
Alert Level 2: 50%
Alert Level 1: 100%
Outdoor recreational venues such as internet cafes, bowling alleys, billiard halls, swimming pools
*with fully vaccinated workers
Alert Level 4:30%
Alert Level 3: 50%
Alert Level 2: 70%
Alert Level 1:100%
Indoor cinemas
*limited to the fully vaccinated
Alert Level 4: Not allowed
Alert Level 3: 30%
Alert Level 2: 50%
Alert Level 1: 100%
Outdoor cinemas
*with fully vaccinated workers
Alert Level 4: Not allowed
Alert Level 3: 50%
Alert Level 2: 70%
Alert Level 1:100%
Indoor personal care services such as barbershops, salons, nail spas, massage parlors
*limited to the fully vaccinated
Alert Level 4: 10%
Alert Level 3: 30%
Alert Level 2: 50%
Alert Level 1: 100%
Outdoor personal care services such as barbershops, salons, nail spas, massage parlors
*with fully vaccinated workers
Alert Level 4: 30%
Alert Level 3: 50%
Alert Level 2: 70%
Alert Level 1: 100%
Casinos, horse racing, cockfighting
Alert Level 4: Not allowed except authorized by IATF
Alert Level 3: Not allowed except authorized by IATF
Alert Level 2: Not allowed except authorized by IATF
Alert Level 1: 100%
Indoor karaoke bars, clubs, concert halls, theaters
*limited to the fully vaccinated
Alert level 4: Not allowed
Alert Level 3: Not allowed
Alert Level 2: 50%
Alert Level 1: 100%
Outdoor karaoke bars, clubs, concert halls, theaters
*with fully vaccinated workers
Alert level 4: Not allowed
Alert Level 3: Not allowed
Alert Level 2: 70%
Alert Level 1: 100%
Indoor funfairs or prey, kid playgrounds, playrooms, kiddie rides
*limited to the fully vaccinated
Alert level 4: Not allowed
Alert Level 3: Not allowed
Alert Level 2: 50%
Alert Level 1: 100%
Outdoor funfairs or prey, kid playgrounds, playrooms, kiddie rides
*with fully vaccinated workers
Alert level 4: Not allowed
Alert Level 3: Not allowed
Alert Level 2: 70%
Alert Level 1: 100%
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