The National Inter-Agency Task Force (NIATF) has downgraded Negros Island and Bacolod City from Alert Level 3 to 2 starting Wednesday, February 16 to 28, Acting Presidential Spokesperson Karlo Nograles announced on Monday, February 14.
The announcement came as COVID-19 cases in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City continued to drop.
The Department of Health 6 on Monday classified Negros Occidental as a low risk area for COVID-19 and Bacolod City as a moderate risk area.
Negros Occidental had 29 new COVID-19 cases and Bacolod City had 19 on Monday, the DOH 6 reported.
The province has 2,039 active COVID-19 cases, the Provincial Incident Management Team said.
Bacolod City has 925 active COVID-19 cases, the DOH 6 added.
Nograles said Iloilo City, Iloilo Province and Guimaras remain under Alert Level 3, while Aklan, Antique and Capiz are under Alert Level 2.
Negros Oriental was also downgraded to Alert Level 2, he added.
The DOH said under Alert Level 2 intrazonal and interzonal movement will be allowed. However, reasonable restrictions may be imposed by local government units, which should not be stricter as those prescribed under higher alert levels and subject to the oversight, monitoring, and evaluation of their respective regional IATFs, it said.
Casinos, horse racing, cockfighting and operation of cockpits, lottery and betting shops, and other gaming establishments will not be allowed to operate, or be undertaken in areas classified under Alert Level 2 except as may be authorized by the IATF or the Office of the President, the DOH added.
The DOH said the following establishments or activities will be allowed to operate or be undertaken at a maximum of 50 percent indoor venue capacity for fully vaccinated individuals and those below 18 years of age, even if unvaccinated, and 70 percent for outdoor venue capacity:
- Venues for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE);
*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;
- Visitor or tourist attractions such as libraries, archives, museums, galleries, exhibits, parks, plazas, public gardens, scenic viewpoints or overlooks, and the like;
*Amusement parks or theme parks;
*Recreational venues such as internet cafes, billiard halls, amusement arcades, bowling alleys, skating rinks, archery halls, swimming pools, and similar venues;
*Cinemas and movie houses;
*Limited face-to-face or in-person classes for basic education subject to prior approval of the Office of the President;
- Limited face-to-face or in-person classes for higher education and for technical-vocational education and training;
- 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 remains of the COVID-19 deceased;
- 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;
- Dine-in services of food preparation establishments such as kiosks, commissaries, restaurants, and eateries, subject to DTI sector-specific protocols;
- 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;
- Fitness studios, gyms, and venues for individual non-contact exercise and sports; Provided that patrons/clients and workers/employees wear face masks at all times and subject to DTI sector-specific protocols;
- Film, music, and television production subject to the joint guidelines as may be issued by the DTI, DOLE, and the DOH;
- Contact sports approved by the LGU where such games shall be held;
- Funfairs/peryas or kid amusement industries such as playgrounds, playroom, and kiddie rides;
- Venues with live voice or wind-instrument performers and audiences such as in karaoke bars, clubs, concert halls, and theaters; and
*Gatherings in residences with individuals not belonging to the same household.
All on-site workers/employees of the identified establishments, or organizers of activities must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and minimum health protocols must be observed, the DOH said.*