Granular Lockdowns Bared

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has ratified the guidelines on the pilot implementation of granular lockdowns and alert levels system in Metro Manila, Malacañang announced on Monday night.

Photo Insert: A PNP checkpoint enforcing coronavirus restrictions

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, who is also IATF-EID spokesperson, said the new classification framework will start on Sept. 16.

“In this new classification framework, we proactively advocate the Principles of 3C’s (Closed, Crowded and Close Contact) Strategy, which shall be applied in Metro Manila starting September 16, 2021,” he said in a press statement.

He said there should be a need to strike a delicate balance between health and the economy.

“We should strive for total health and this can only be realized by carefully balancing our COVID-19 response by considering both the health of our people and the economic health of the nation, which this policy shift is all about,” he added.

Under the new guidelines, the new community quarantine classifications will have five Alert Levels that would determine the activities allowed in cities and/or municipalities.

These include:

* Alert Level 1 - refers to areas wherein case transmission is low and decreasing, total bed utilization rate, and intensive care unit utilization rate is low. * 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. *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. * 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 are high.

*Alert Level 5 – refers to areas wherein case counts are alarming, with total bed utilization rate and intensive care unit utilization rate at a critical level.

The Department of Health (DOH) shall identify the Alert Level of the pilot area that “shall follow the protocols consistent with the declared Alert Level.”

“Areas placed under Alert Level 5 shall observe the guidelines applicable to Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) as provided for under the IATF Omnibus Guidelines on the implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines, as amended,” the new guidelines stated.

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