The National Capital Region Plus bubble has been placed under General Community Quarantine with heightened restrictions.
This means only essential travel into and out of the bubble—Metro Manila and the nearby provinces of Rizal, Bulacan, Laguna and Cavite—shall be allowed.
At the same time, public transportation shall remain operational at such capacities and protocols in accordance with the Department of Transportation guidelines.
Indoor dine-in services in NCR Plus shall be at 20 percent venue or seating capacity while outdoor or al fresco dining shall be at 50 percent venue or seating capacity. Outdoor tourist attractions in the NCR Plus may be opened at 30 percent with strict adherence to minimum public health standards.
Religious gatherings and gatherings for necrological services, wakes, inurnment and funerals for those who died of causes other than COVID-19 in NCR Plus shall be allowed up to 10 percent of the venue capacity.
Also continued to be allowed are non-contact outdoor sports and personal care services that allow for services not requiring mask removal, such as salons, parlors, and beauty clinics, among others at 30 percent capacity.
Also permitted are non-contact outdoor sports and personal care services that allow for services not requiring mask removal, such as salons, parlors, and beauty clinics, among others at 30 percent capacity.
Entertainment venues like bars, concert halls, and theaters; recreational venues such as internet cafes, billiards halls, and arcades; amusement parks, fairs, playgrounds, and kiddie rides; indoor sports courts and venues and indoor tourist attractions; and venues for meetings, conferences, exhibitions shall not be allowed in NCR Plus
But interzonal travel from NCR Plus areas, except those conducted by Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APORs), shall remain prohibited.
Under normal GCQ status from May 15 to 31 are areas under the Cordillera Administrative Region—Apayao, Baguio City, Benguet, Kalinga, Mountain Province and Abra; Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya in Region 2; Batangas and Quezon in Region 4-A; Puerto Princesa in Region 4-B; Iligan City in Region 10; Davao City in Region 11; and Lanao del Sur in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
All other areas shall be placed under Modified General Community Quarantine until the month’s end.
These permissions do not mean setting down the basic health protocols—including correct physical distancing, proper hand washing, use of face masks and face shields—although some started forgetting these on the eve of the shift back to General Community Quarantine.
Many people might take the GCQ as a sign that we can resume more activities. We should remember it is a measure adopted not because it is already safe to go outside, but because the economy needs some activity despite the ongoing risk.
