Before an area is deemed to be under the new normal, it must first transition to modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), according to the new omnibus guidelines released by the the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).
“Areas, where no community quarantine is in place, can be considered as being under the new normal,” the omnibus read.
Prior to the revised guidelines, the IATF-EID defined the ‘new normal’ as the general community quarantine (GCQ), a more relaxed version of the community quarantine.
ECQ is currently enforced in the cities of Cebu and Mandaue from May 16 to 31, according to the latest resolution of the IATF-EID. Metro Manila, Laguna, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Zambales, and Angeles City are put under MECQ. Meanwhile, the rest of the country prepares to transition to GCQ.
MGCQ is the most relaxed community quarantine implemented by the government. Here’s what to expect under the modified general community quarantine, the transition to the ‘new normal’:
- Individuals and group outdoor exercises, including non-contact sports like golf, tennis, table tennis, and swimming, will be allowed, provided that minimum public health standards are strictly enforced;
- Public gatherings will be allowed, as long as the venue or seating capacity in an event is limited to 50%, i.e. movie screenings, concerts, sporting events, entertainment activities, community assemblies, religious gatherings, and non-essential work gatherings;
- Dine-in service in food retail establishments like supermarkets, grocery stores, and food preparation stalls will be allowed provided that the seating capacity may not exceed 50%;
- Road, rail, maritime, and aviation sectors of public transportation will be allowed to operate;
- Passengers must have strict one-meter distance and appropriate engineering controls must be in place;
- u=Use of private company shuttles, personal vehicles, bikes, and non-motorized vehicles are allowed;
- Residential or face-to-face classes may also be done in higher education institutions (HEIs), provided that there is strict compliance with minimum health standards, consultation with local government units, and compliance with guidelines set by Commission on Higher Education. However, mass gatherings in HEIs are still prohibited;
- Work in all public and private offices will also be allowed to resume physical work in “full capacity,” with alternative arrangements for senior citizens, individuals with health risks, and pregnant women;
- Work in government offices may be at full operational capacity or under alternative work arrangements as agencies may deem appropriate, following the rules and regulations set by the Civil Service Commission;
- Accredited diplomatic missions and international organizations may resume full operations;
- And all public and private construction projects will also be allowed, but with strict compliance with the Department of Public Works and Highways’ construction safety guidelines for the implementation of infrastructure projects during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
