MANILA, Philippines (4th update, 7:02 p.m.; May 13) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday announced that he approved the recommendation to extend the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila, Laguna and Cebu City until May 31, with modifications in protocols.
The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases recommended placing the three areas considered as high-risk for COVID-19 infections under a revised ECQ scheme, extending the lockdown for 15 more days since mid-March.
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As presidential spokesperson Harry Roque presented, the variations in protocols and policies are as follows:
ALSO READ: What is modified, enhanced, general quarantine? Here's how to tell the difference
| Area classification and interventions: Community quarantine | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ECQ: Enhanced Community Quarantine | Modified ECQ | GCQ: General Community Quarantine | Modified GCQ |
| (critical zone) | (containment zone) | (buffer zone) | (outside buffer zone) |
| No movement regardless of age and health status. | Limited movement within zone for obtaining essential services and work. | Limited movement to services and work within buffer zone and outside buffer zone. | Permissive socio-economic activities with minimum public health standards. |
| Minimal economic activity except for utility services (ie food, power, water, etc.) and critical economic sector. | Operation of selected manufacturing and processing plants up to a maximum 50% workforce. | Operation of government offices and industries up to a maximum of 75% workforce. | |
| No transportation activity except for utility services. | Limited transporting services for essential goods and services. | Limited transporting services to support government and private sectot operations. | |
| Suspension of physical classes. | Suspension of physical classes. | Flexible learning arrangements; operate at limited capacities to support students. | |
The following areas considered moderate-risk will be under general community quarantine:
CAR (Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Baguio City)
Region II (Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Santiago City
Region III (Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Angeles City, Olongapo City)
Region IV-A (Cavite, Quezon, Rizal, Batangas, Lucena City)
Region VII (Bohol, Cebu province, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City)
Region IX (Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga City, Isabela City)
Region XI (Davao City, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental)
Region XIII (Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Butuan City)
In areas under GCQ, there would be limited movement to services and work within the so-called buffer zone and outside buffer zone. Operation of government offices and industries would have a maximum of 75% workforce.
Transporting services will also be limited to support government and private operations. Learning arrangements will also be flexible and would have to operate at limited capacities to cater to students.
Other regions in the country labeled as low risk will be under a modified General Community Quarantine, the guidelines for which have yet to be released.
The government identified the following regions as low-risk:
Region I (Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Dagupan City)
Region IV-B (Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Palawan, Puerto Princesa City)
Region V (Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, Sorsogon, Legazpi City, Naga City)
Region VI (Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Iloilo City, Bacolod City)
Region VIII (Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Western Samar, Southern Leyte, Ormoc City, Tacloban City)
Region X (Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Cagayan de Oro City)
Region XII (North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, General Santos City)
BARMM (Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Cotabato City)
Common protocols across community quarantine levels
According to the National Action Plan released on Wednesday, the following safety protocols will be implemented at every level of the community quarantine:
- "No mask, no entry"
- Frequent sanitation and handwashing
- Avoid touching surfaces and face
- Stricter protocols for higher-risk occupations, industries, and spaces
People are supposed to be at least one meter apart, which could mean reconfigured work spaces in industries allowed to return to work and a prohibition of coming into to the office if showing possible COVID-19 symptoms.
Companies that are resuming operations must also have work from home as a default. Employers must provide private shuttles for their workers and all employees must undergo antibody testing and a confirmatory PCR test if necessary. — Patricia Lourdes Viray, infographics from National Action Plan released by Office of the Presidential Spokesperson
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