NCR Plus on Heightened GCQ until May 31

13 May 2021

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President Rodrigo Duterte announced that NCR Plus (Metro Manila, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, and Bulacan) would be put on a heightened General Community Quarantine or GCQ starting May 15 until May 31, 2021. Along with the NCR Plus, other areas like Apayao, Baguio City, Benguet, Kalinga, Abra, Mountain Province, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Batangas, Quezon, Puerto Princesa, Iligan City, Davao City, and Lanao del Sur will also be under the heightened GCQ.

Here are the new sets of guidelines for the new quarantine level:

Transportation

Only essential travels to and fro NCR Plus will be allowed, and public transportation will still be operational as long as they follow the capacities and protocols from the Department of Transportation. Active transportations are also advised.

Also, individuals from 18-65 years old are now allowed to leave their residence while the Interzonal travel from NCR Plus areas remains prohibited in places with heightened GCQ restrictions, except those conducted by Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APORs).

Dining

Indoor dine-in services in NCR Plus will be at 20% venue or seating capacity, while al fresco or outdoor dining will be allowed to have 50% venue or seating capacity.

Tourist Spots

Outdoor tourist attractions are now allowed to operate at 30% capacity as long as they strictly follow the minimum public health standards.

Specialized Markets

The specialized markets by the Department of Tourism or DOT will be allowed as long they will also follow the minimum public health standards and implementation of protocols and restrictions by the DOT.

Religious Gatherings

Religious gatherings and gatherings for necrological services, wakes, inurnment, and funerals are allowed up to 10% of the venue capacity, except for deaths due to COVID-19.

Others

Outdoor non-contact sports, games, scrimmages, and personal care services that do not require mask removal, such as salons, parlors, beauty clinics, etc., can operate in a 30% capacity.

As for entertainment venues such as bars, concert halls, theaters; recreational venues like internet cafes, billiard halls, arcades, etc.; amusement parks, fairs, playgrounds, kiddie rides; indoor sports courts and venues including indoor tourist attractions; and venues for meetings, conferences, exhibitions are still not allowed to operate.

We might already have a heightened general community quarantine which is a tad lighter than the other restriction levels. However, we must still observe the minimum health protocol as the new variant of the COVID-19 virus from India already entered our country.

Wear your masks and face shield at all times while adhering to the one-meter social distancing rule. Of course, the best way to protect ourselves and our families from the novel coronavirus is to stay at home if we don't have anything important to do outside.