The province of Davao Occidental was categorized under Alert Level 4 by the IATF
DAVAO CITY, October 18 (PIA) – The Department of Health XI announced in today’s virtual presser that Davao Occidental was categorized by the Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) under Alert Level 4; Davao City and Davao del Norte on Alert Level 3 while Davao de Oro , Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental are placed on Alert Level 2.
Alert Level 4 refers to areas wherein case counts are high and/or increasing, with total bed utilization rate and intensive care unit utilization rate at high utilization; Alert Level 3 refers to areas wherein case counts are high and/or increasing, with total bed utilization rate and intensive care unit utilization rate at increasing utilization; while Alert Level 2 refers to areas wherein case transmission is low and decreasing, healthcare utilization is low, or case counts are low but increasing, or case counts are low and decreasing but total bed utilization rate and intensive care unit utilization rate is increasing.
DOH XI head of the Epidemiology Surveillance Unit Dr. Rachelle Pasion said that areas categorized on Alert Level 4 and 3 need to increase vaccination roll-out and to avoid using hospitals as vaccination sites as these hospitals need to cater COVID and non-COVID cases.
“Also, we need to ramp up case finding, and have an aggressive contact tracing. We may utilize antigen testing for these scenarios and we need to immediately isolate those close contacts. On genome sequencing, we also need to secure more samples from identified areas with high cases,” Dr. Pasion said.
The IATF recently used the COVID-19 Alert Levels System as the new Community Quarantine Classifications for dealing with COVID-19 covering entire cities, municipalities and/or regions.
It is aimed to manage and minimize the risk of the disease through System Indicators, Triggers and Thresholds determined by the IATF to specify the public health and social measures to be taken in relation to the COVID-19 response, as may be updated based on new scientific knowledge, information about the effectiveness of control measures in the country and overseas, and its application.
Establishments in areas under Alert Level 3 are still prohibited to hold:
a. Face to face or in-person classes for basic education, except those previously approved by the IATF and/or the Office of the President;
b. Contact sports, except those conducted under a bubble-type setup as provided for under relevant guidelines adopted by the IATF, Games and Amusement Board, and Philippine Sports Commission, and approved by the LGU where such games shall be held;
c. Funfairs/peryas and kid amusement industries such as playgrounds, playroom, and kiddie rides;
d. Venues with live voice or wind-instrument performers and audiences such as in karaoke bars, clubs, concert halls, and theaters;
e. Casinos, horse racing, cockfighting and operation of cockpits, lottery and betting shops, and other gaming establishments except as may be authorized by the IATF or the Office of the President; and
f. Gatherings in residences with individuals not belonging to the same household.
A maximum of 30% indoor venue capacity for fully vaccinated individuals only and 50% outdoor venue capacity is allowed for the following:
a. Venues for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE);
b. Permitted venues for social events such as parties, wedding receptions, engagement parties, wedding anniversaries, debut and birthday parties, family reunions, and bridal or baby showers;
c. Visitor or tourist attractions such as libraries, archives, museums, galleries, exhibits, parks, plazas, public gardens, scenic viewpoints or overlooks, and the like;
d. Amusement parks or theme parks;
e. Recreational venues such as internet cafes, billiard halls, amusement arcades, bowling alleys, skating rinks, archery halls, swimming pools, and similar venues;
f. Cinemas and movie houses; With Amendments as of October 13, 2021.
g. Limited face-to-face or in-person classes for higher education and for technical-vocational education and training;
h. 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;
i. Licensure or entrance/qualifying examinations administered by their respective government agency, and specialty examinations authorized by the IATF subject to the health and safety guidelines as approved by the IATF;
j. Dine-in services in food preparation establishments such as kiosks, commissaries, restaurants, and eateries, subject to DTI sector-specific protocols;
k. Personal care establishments such as barbershops, hair spas, hair salons, and nail spas, and those offering aesthetic/cosmetic services or procedures, make-up services, salons, spas, reflexology, and other similar procedures including home service options, subject to the sector-specific protocols of the DTI;
l. Fitness studios, gyms, and venues for non-contact exercise and sports, subject to DTI sector-specific protocols. Provided that patrons/clients and workers/employees wear face masks at all times and that no group activities are conducted; and m. Film, music, and television production, subject to the joint guidelines as may be issued by the DTI, DOLE, and the DOH.
Provided, that all workers/employees of these establishments are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and MPHS shall be strictly maintained. Provided further, that there is no objection from the LGU where these activities may take place. (PIA XI/Frances Mae Macapagat)
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