NextGen Day

Malacanang said on Friday night that the alert level status in Metro Manila will be elevated from Level 2 to Alert Level 3 from January 3 to 15, 2022.

Acting presidential spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) decided to raise the alert level due to an increase in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infections in the country.

“Nakita naman natin sa mga nakaraang araw ay nag-increase exponentially ang mga kaso ay nag-increase exponentially ang mga kaso ay nag-increase exponentially ang mga kaso ay nag-increase exponentially ang mga kaso ay nag-increase exponentially ang mga kas Isa rin sa dahilan ang identification ng local cases ng Omicron variant (We witnessed an exponential surge in recent days due to holiday activities, where there was more travel and compliance with minimum public health norms may have been ignored.) Cases of the Omicron variety have also been discovered locally) “he stated

As a result of the IATF’s decision, Nograles expects a rise in Covid-19 positive cases in the coming days.

After a 12-day period of active cases below 10,000, the number rose to 10,418 on December 29 and reached 14,233 at the end of the year, after 2,961 additional cases.

The Department of Health also reported ten new Omicron variant cases, three of which have already been recovered.

The Omicron version has a “high likelihood” of local transmission, according to Nograles.

Under Alert Level 3, establishments or activities may operate or be carried out with a maximum of 30% indoor venue capacity for fully vaccinated individuals only and 50% outdoor venue capacity, provided that all establishments’ staff are properly vaccinated against Covid-19.

Movements

Intrazonal and interzonal mobility are still permitted, although LGUs may apply appropriate limits, which should not be more stringent than those imposed under higher alert levels and subject to the oversight, monitoring, and evaluation of their respective Regional IATF.

Those under the age of 18 and members of the vulnerable population must be granted access to vital goods and services, as well as employment in permitted industries and offices, in compliance with existing labor laws, rules, and regulations. Individual outdoor exercises for people of all ages, regardless of comorbidities or immunization status, are also permitted. 2.

Activities that are prohibited

Meanwhile, the following facilities and activities are prohibited under Alert Level 3 because they provide a high risk of transmission:

Except for those previously allowed by the IATF and the Office of the President, face-to-face or in-person classes for basic education are prohibited.
Contact sports, excluding those conducted in a bubble-type setup as permitted by relevant IATF, Events and Amusement Board, and Philippine Sports Commission standards and allowed by the LGU where such games are to be hosted;
Playgrounds, playrooms, and kiddie rides; Funfairs/carnivals and kid amusement businesses such as playgrounds, playrooms, and kiddie rides;
Venues with live voice or wind-instrument performers and audiences, such as karaoke bars, clubs, concert halls, and theaters; Casinos, horse racing, cockfighting and operation of cockpits, lottery and betting shops, and other gaming establishments, with the exception of those that will be allowed by the IATF or the Office of the President; and Gatherings in residences with individuals who do not belong to the same household.
Activities that are permitted

He added the following events are permitted under Alert Level 3 with a maximum of 30% indoor venue capacity for fully vaccinated individuals only and 50% outdoor venue capacity:

Meeting, incentive, conference, and exhibition (MICE) venues;
Parties, wedding receptions, engagement parties, wedding anniversaries, debut and birthday parties, family reunions, and bridal or baby showers are all permitted events.
Libraries, archives, museums, galleries, exhibits, parks, plazas, public gardens, scenic vistas or overlooks, and other visitor or tourist attractions;
Theme parks or amusement parks;
Internet cafes, billiard halls, amusement arcades, bowling alleys, skating rinks, archery halls, swimming pools, and similar facilities are examples of recreational venues.
Movie theaters and movie theaters;
Limited face-to-face or in-person classes for higher education and technical-vocational education and training; in-person religious gatherings; gatherings for necrological services, wakes, inurnment, and funerals for those who died of causes other than COVID-19 and for the cremains of the COVID-19 deceased; in-person religious gatherings; in-person religious gatherings; in-person religious gatherings; in-person religious gatherings; in-person religious gatherings; in-person
Speciality examinations authorized by the IATF and subject to the IATF’s health and safety guidelines; Licensure or entrance/qualifying examinations administered by their respective government agency, and specialty examinations authorized by the IATF;
Personal care establishments such as barbershops, hair spas, hair salons, and nail spas, as well as those offering aesthetic/cosmetic services or procedures, make-up services, salons, spas, reflexology, and other similar procedures, including home service options, are subject to DTI sector-specific protocols; Fitness studies Provided, however, that patrons/clients and workers/employees wear face masks at all times and no group activities are undertaken; and Film, music, and television production, according to joint guidelines published by the DTI, DOLE, and DOH.
These events will be permitted if all on-site workers/employees of these establishments and activity organizers are completely vaccinated against COVID-19 and MPHS is carefully adhered to. The LGU has given its approval for these activities to take place.

According to him, the IATF has directed the Technical Working Group, which is led by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and the National Vaccination Operations Center, to develop rules for enforcing harsher measures against unvaccinated people.

Isolation and quarantine protocols

“We also restate the current local quarantine and isolation periods and protocols as included in Department of Health Administrative Order No. 2021-0043 or the Omnibus Guidelines on the Minimum Public Health Standards for the Safe Reopening of Institutions,” according to Nograles. “This is to ensure that all stakeholders adhere to the rules.”

These are some of them:

Positive patients must be isolated for 10 days for asymptomatic, mild, and moderate cases; 21 days for severe and critical cases; 7 days quarantine for fully vaccinated close contacts; and 14 days quarantine for unvaccinated and partially vaccinated close contacts and travelers.
According to him, the IATF issued a direction to the Response Cluster and National Task Force Against Covid-19 to prepare pediatric healthcare capacity for a likely surge in Covid-19 cases and hospital admissions among the children population due to their unvaccinated status.

All implementing agencies, he said, have been told to make sure that all protocols are followed and that minimum public health requirements are followed, particularly in confined and congested locations and during close-contact activities.

While using work-from-home and other flexible work arrangements, government agencies and instrumentalities must be fully operational and maintain at least 60% on-site capacity.

“Mga kababayan, higit kailanman, muling nakaatang sa balikat nating lahat ang tagumpay ng bansa laban sa panibagong hamon nitong pandemya, muling nakaatang sa balikat nating lahat ang tagumpay ng bansa laban sa panibagong hamon nitong Ngayong bisperas ng bagong taon, magdiwang nang may pagpapasalamat sa Mayakapal, ngunit manatiling mahinahon sa ating pag-iingat; maging ligtas sa ating pakikipagtulungan sa gobyerno at sa isa’t isa (Fellow Filipinos, the success of tackling Let us rejoice and give thanks to God on this New Year’s Eve, but let us also stay calm and cautious. Let us be cautious in assisting the government and Filipinos),” Nograles remarked.

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