The Philippine government has placed the country under varying levels of community quarantine since March 2020 to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
The following are key points of the updated guidelines released by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) regarding various quarantine classifications as of August 18, 2020:
UPDATED SAFETY PROTOCOLS
The use of face shield, aside from face mask, is now mandatory for all commuters and employees starting August 15.
MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE
ECQ:
- 100% stay at home
- Exception for workers in offices or industries permitted to operate
MECQ:
- 100% stay at home
- Restricted movement, only for accessing essential goods and services
- Exception for workers in offices or industries permitted to operate
- Persons below twenty-one (21) years old, sixty (60) years old and above or those at high risk for contracting the COVID-19 disease are required to stay home
GCQ:
- Persons below twenty-one (21) years old, sixty (60) years old and above or those at high risk for contracting the COVID-19 disease are required to stay home
MGCQ:
- Persons below twenty-one (21) years old, sixty (60) years old and above or those at high risk for contracting the COVID-19 disease are required to stay home
TRAVEL & TRANSPORTATION
Motorcycle barriers are required for pillion riding or back-riding.
ECQ:
- No domestic flights, with limited international flights
- Public transportation is not allowed
- Shuttle services for employees of permitted offices or establishments, as well as point-to-point transport service, granted permission to operate by the government, with healthcare workers and other frontliners given priority
MECQ:
- No domestic flights, with limited international flights
- Controlled inbound flights
- No inter-island travel
- Public transportation is not allowed
- Private transportation such as company shuttles and personal vehicles allowed subject to the guidelines provided by the Department of Transportation (DOTr)
- Biking and non-motorized transport encouraged
GCQ:
- Public transport is allowed with strict social distancing
- Inter-island travel from GCQ to GCQ allowed with safety protocols.
MGCQ:
- Public transport is allowed with strict social distancing
- Inter-island travel from GCQ to GCQ allowed with safety protocols.
GATHERINGS
ECQ:
- Mass gatherings are not allowed
- Only mass gatherings that are essential for the provision of government services or authorized humanitarian activities permitted
MECQ:
- Highly restricted (maximum of 5)
- Non-essential work gatherings are prohibited
GCQ:
- Gatherings are limited to not more than ten (10) persons
- Non-essential work gatherings are prohibited
MGCQ:
- Fifty percent (50%) of the seating or venue capacity for movie screenings, concerts, sporting events, and other entertainment activities, religious services, and work conferences
SCHOOLS
ECQ:
School premises are closed
MECQ:
School premises are closed
GCQ:
- Skeletal workforce permitted in schools
- Face-to-face or in-person classes are suspended
MGCQ:
- Limited face-to-face or in-person classes may be conducted; strict compliance with minimum public health standards and consultations with local government units (LGUs) and guidelines set by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
WORK
ECQ:
Select industry workers permitted
MECQ:
- Essential industries permitted to work at full capacity, with others operating at a fifty percent (50%) capacity
- Work-from-home and other flexible work arrangements encouraged
GCQ:
Alternative work arrangements
MGCQ:
- Full operating capacity for work in all public and private offices
- Alternative work arrangements for persons who are sixty (60) years old and above, or those with other health risks
GOVERNMENT SERVICE
ECQ:
- Skeletal workforce onsite
- Work from home arrangements
MECQ:
- Skeletal workforce onsite
- Work from home arrangements
GCQ:
Work in all government offices under alternative work arrangements
MGCQ:
Work in government offices may be at full operational capacity, or under alternative work arrangements
EXERCISE AND SPORTS
ECQ:
Outdoor exercise not allowed
MECQ:
- Limited outdoor exercise (Outdoor walk, Jog/run, Bike)
- with face mask
- 2-meter physical distancing
GCQ:
- Indoor and non-contact sports allowed
- Walking, jogging, running, biking, golf, swimming, tennis, badminton, equestrian, range shooting, and skateboarding
- Minimum public health standards such as the wearing of masks and the maintenance of social distancing protocols, and no sharing of equipment where applicable, are observed
- Spectators in all non-contact sports and exercises are still prohibited
MGCQ:
- Indoor and non-contact sports allowed
- Walking, jogging, running, biking, golf, swimming, tennis, badminton, equestrian, range shooting, and skateboarding
- Minimum public health standards such as the wearing of masks and the maintenance of social distancing protocols, and no sharing of equipment where applicable, are observed
- Spectators in all non-contact sports and exercises are still prohibited
Developments and additional regulations are expected to be released as the NCR (National Capital Region) and other neighboring provinces transition back to GCQ on August 19.
LOOK: The Philippine Vaccine Queue Calculator is an online app that allows Filipino users to see when they are likely to receive the coronavirus vaccine given the country’s vaccine distribution scenario.
CHECK THIS OUT: What To Do When Suspected or Confirmed to Have COVID in the Philippines
SEE: Guidelines for Staycation Tourists
As the Philippines adjusts to a new normal, education also takes on a distance learning approach to keep children safe amid the pandemic.
TELL US in the comments below your questions about the quarantine levels enforced in the Philippines.
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