Quarantine guidelines

Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ)

• Minimum public health standards shall be complied with at all times for the duration of the MECQ.

• Strict home quarantine shall be observed in all households,

• Work in government offices may operate at skeleton workforce in combination with other alternative work arrangements as approved by the head of agency unless a different operational capacity is required.

Movement of Persons

Residents can only step out to access essential goods and services and work in permitted offices or establishments.

Persons not allowed to go outside*

• Persons below 21 years old

• Persons 60 years old and above

• Persons with disability and other health risks

• Pregnant women

• Any person who resides with the aforementioned

Persons allowed to travel

• Bearers of IATF IDs

• Bearers of bona fide IDs issued by permitted establishments

• Bearers of RapidPass IDs

• Healthcare workers and other essential employees from permitted establishments

• Pastors, priests, rabbi, imams, and other religious ministers (insofar as providing home religious services to households provided proper protocols are observed)

• Payroll managers (and other employees that may be required to process payrolls and print payrolls)

• Security personnel

Except when obtaining essential goods and services, or for work in industries and offices permitted to operate.

Mass Gatherings

Mass gatherings such as but not limited to, movie screenings, concerts, sporting events, and other entertainment activities, community assemblies, and non-essential work gatherings shall be prohibited. Gatherings that are for the provision of critical government services and authorized humanitarian activities while adhering to the prescribed minimum health standards shall be allowed.

Religious gatherings shall be limited to not more than ten (10) persons, until otherwise modified through subsequent issuances of the IATF.

Outdoor non-contact sports and other forms of exercise such as but not limited to walking, jogging, running, biking, golf, swimming, tennis, badminton, equestrian, range shooting, and skateboarding are allowed.

Provided, that the 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.

Provided further, that operations of the relevant clubhouses or similar establishments, if any, shall be limited to basic operations and restaurants and cafés therein are hereby allowed to operate at thirty percent (30%) venue capacity provided that it allows for social distancing protocols and that such establishments are compliant with the proper protocols prescribed by the DTI. In this regard, the operation of these dine-in establishments is hereby allowed up to 9:00 PM. For this purpose, the prohibition in Section 4(3) does not apply.

Spectators in all non-contact sports and exercises shall be prohibited.(As amended by Paragraph A(3)(a) of IATF Resolution No. 43, June 03, 2020 and further amended by Paragraph D of IATF Resolution No. 48, June 22, 2020, Paragraph B(3) of IATF Resolution No. 49, June 25, 2020, and Paragraph B of IATF Resolution No. 56, July 16, 2020.)

Visits to open-air memorial parks and cemeteries shall be limited to not more than ten (10) persons per group. The number of groups allowed at any given time shall be left to the discretion of the management of such memorial parks and cemeteries taking into consideration minimum public health standards and social distancing. (IATF Resolution No. 49, June 25, 2020)

Transportation

The road, rail, maritime, and aviation sectors of public transportation shall operate at a reduced operational and vehicle capacity in accordance with guidelines issued by the DOTr.

Provided, that in all public transports, a strict one (1) meter distance between passengers shall be observed and appropriate engineering controls shall be in place.

Outdoor Activities

Outdoor non-contact sports and other forms of exercise are allowed. Provided that the minimum health standards and precautions such as the wearing of masks and the maintenance of social distancing protocols are observed.

Education

Face-to-face or in-person classes shall be suspended. For Academic Year 2020-2021, the following shall be observed for the conduct of classes:

• For basic education, the Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan of the Department of Education (DepEd) shall be adopted, as follows:

• Opening of classes for the basic education shall be on 24 August 2020 and shall end on 30 April 2021;

• Opening of private schools will be allowed within the period provided by law. Provided, that school learning continuity plan shall be submitted; no face-to-face classes will be allowed earlier than 24 August 2020; and, from 24 August, face-to-face learning shall only be allowed when the local risk severity grading permits, and subject to compliance with minimum public health standards;

• Adoption of various learning delivery options such as but not limited to face-to-face, blended learnings, distance learnings, and homeschooling and other modes of delivery shall be implemented depending on the local COVID Risk Severity Classification and compliance with minimum public health standards; and

• Conduct of curricular and co-curricular activities involving gatherings such as science fairs, showcase of portfolios, trade fairs, school sports, campus journalism, festival of talents, job fairs, and other similar activities is cancelled, except those conducted online.

• For higher education, the recommendations of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for higher education institutions (HEIs) shall be adopted, as follows:

• The rolling opening of classes will be based on education delivery mode, compliance with minimum health standards and the situation on the ground:

• HEIs using full online education can open anytime;

• HEIs using flexible learning can open anytime in August 2020;

• HEIs using significant face-to-face or in-person mode can open not earlier than 01 September 2020;

• No face-to-face or in-person classes until 31 August 2020.

• Private HEIs are encouraged to change their academic calendar and open in August 2020.

• For technical vocational education and training (TVET) of the Technical Educational and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the following trainings and assessments may be conducted or provided by Technical Vocational Institutions (TVIs) and TESDA Technology Institutions (TTIs) subject to compliance with TESDA Guidelines and minimum public health standards.

• Full online/E-learning trainings;

• All training programs related to agriculture/fishery qualifications for food production and processing;

• Distance Learning for TVET programs;

• E-learning component of Blended Learning for TVET programs

• Dual Training System, Enterprise-Based Training, and In-Plant Training in establishments allowed to operate under GCQ, and

• Virtual Assessment and Portfolio Assessment through electronic means for certain TVET qualifications. (As amended by Paragraph C of IATF Resolution No. 47, June 19, 2020)

Establishments Allowed to Operate

Full Operational Capacity

• Work in all government offices or under such alternative work arrangements as agencies may deem proper in accordance with the relevant rules and regulations issued by the Civil Service Commission (CSC). Provided that for offices requiring employees to report physically, commissioned shuttle services as well as point-to-point transport services may be provided.

• Category I Industries - Power, energy, water, and other utilities, agriculture, fishery, and forestry industries, food manufacturing and food supply chain businesses, including food retail establishments such as supermarkets, grocery stores, and food preparation establishments insofar as take-out and delivery services, food delivery services, health-related establishments, the logistics sector, information technology and telecommunication companies, the media.

• Category II Industries - Mining and other manufacturing, and electronic commerce companies, as well as other delivery, repair and maintenance, and housing and office services, at anywhere between fifty percent (50%) up to full operational capacity, and without prejudice to work-from-home and other alternative work arrangements; and

• Category III Industries - Financial services, legal and accounting, and auditing services, professional, scientific, technical, and other non-leisure services, barbershops and salons and other non-leisure wholesale and retail establishments, from skeleton workforce to fifty percent (50%) operational capacity, and without prejudice to work-from-home and other alternative work arrangements.

• All public and private construction projects shall be allowed, but with strict compliance to the construction safety guidelines issued by the DPWH for the implementation of infrastructure projects during the COVID-19 pandemic.

50% Operational Capacity (with alternative work arrangement)

• Accredited diplomatic missions and international organizations

Establishments Not Allowed to Operate

• Limited operations in malls and shopping centers shall be allowed, except for leisure establishments and services which shall continue to be closed. Provided, that establishments and services allowed to operate in malls and shopping centers may only operate at a capacity consistent with Section 2(4) of these Omnibus Guidelines. Provided further, those below twenty-one (21) years old, and those sixty (60) years old and above and those with immunodeficiency, comorbidity, or other health risks, and pregnant women, including any person who resides with the aforementioned, may not enter malls and shopping centers except when indispensable under the circumstances for obtaining essential goods and services or for work in establishments located therein until otherwise modified through subsequent issuances of the IATF. Provided finally, that operations of malls and shopping centers are subject to the guidelines of the DTI.

• Amusement, gaming, and fitness establishments, as well as those in the kids and the tourism industries, and all Category IV industries may not operate. Industries in Category IV are reflected in the DTI issuance mentioned above. The DTI, in consultation with the Department of Finance, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Department of Tourism is hereby authorized to gradually recategorize industries from Category IV to Category III as may be deemed necessary. The resumption of, or gradual increase in operating capacity, and continued operations of Category III industries shall be subject to their proprietors’ compliance with the proper health protocols set by the DTI. Further, their compliance shall be assessed through a post-audit mechanism which shall be led by the DTI, DOH, LGU Health Office and/or other deputized organizations. (As amended by Paragraph C of IATF Resolution No. 56, July 16, 2020)

• No hotels or accommodation establishments shall be allowed to operate, except those accommodating the following:

• For guests who have existing booking accommodations for foreigners as of 17 March 2020 for Luzon and 01 May 2020 for other areas;

• Guests who have existing long-term bookings;

• Distressed OFWs and stranded Filipinos or foreign nationals;

• Repatriated OFWs in compliance with approved quarantine protocols;

• Non-OFWs who may be required to undergo mandatory facility-based quarantine; and

• Healthcare workers and other employees from exempted establishments under these Omnibus Guidelines and applicable Memoranda from the Executive Secretary.

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