[UPDATE as of August 4, 2021: Longer curfew hours have been announced and the return of quarantine passes has also been confirmed.]
With the growing threat of the Delta variant of COVID-19, Malacañang has announced that Metro Manila will be back to Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) from August 6 to August 20. Here’s a quick guide if you need a refresher on what activities and businesses are allowed during this period.
Note: These are the ECQ Guidelines released back in March. Some of these rules may be changed when the IATF releases an updated set of guidelines before August 6.
Movements under ECQ
- Longer curfew hours from 8 PM to 4 AM will be enforced.
- Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya confirmed that quarantine passes will be required again under ECQ. Previous IATF IDs as well as company IDs can be used.
- Movements are limited to Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APOR), those accessing essential goods and services, and workers in establishments allowed to operate.
- Those who are below 18 and above 65 years old, those with comorbidities, and pregnant women are not allowed to go out. They can only go outdoors to either obtain essential goods and services or work in the office.
- Authorized Persons Outside Residence, workers, cargo vehicles, and public transportation are exempted from the curfew.
- Mass transportation is allowed at 50% capacity.
- Face-to-face classes are prohibited.
- Mass gatherings of more than 10 persons outside and gatherings of non-household members indoors are not allowed.
Shops & services that are allowed under ECQ
- Malls are allowed to operate, but only essential stores such as groceries and pharmacies will be open.
- Establishments offering essential goods and services can operate at 50% capacity.
- Dining establishments are for take-out and delivery only. Dine-in services including al fresco are not allowed.
- Staycations are no longer allowed under the ECQ guidelines.
- Public and private hospitals, as well as establishments that offer health, emergency, and front-line services, will be in full operation.
- Dental clinics, optometry clinics, pharmacies, veterinary clinics, banks, money transfer services, telecommunications companies, manufacturing firms, funeral and embalming services, and security personnel will run with a skeleton workforce.
Additional guidelines before ECQ
Before the ECQ takes effect, Malacañang also announced some additional restrictions that will be implemented in Metro Manila starting today until August 5.
- Indoor dine-in services and al fresco dining are prohibited. Only take-out and delivery are allowed in Metro Manila.
- Personal care services like beauty salons, beauty parlors, barber shops and nail spas may operate up to 30% of venue or seating capacity.
- Indoor sports courts, venues, indoor tourist attractions, and specialized markets of the Department of Tourism (DOT) may not operate. Outdoor tourist attractions will be allowed at 30% venue capacity.
- Only virtual religious gatherings shall be allowed.
- Gatherings for necrological services, wakes, inurnment and funerals for those who died of causes other than Covid-19 shall be allowed, provided they are limited to immediate family members.
For more information, visit the PNA website.
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Note: These rules and regulations are subject to change without prior notice.
