ECQ August 2021: What Are the Activities Allowed Under Different Quarantine Classification?

A quick refresher to understand the restrictioners better.
by Ina Louise Manto | August 06, 2021

As a measure to combat the widespread of the new and highly transmittable Delta variant, the government has placed the National Capital Region under the strictest Enhanced Community Quarantine from August 6 to 20, 2021. To help you understand your community quarantine classification, we’ve prepared this list for you:

 

What are the different community quarantine classifications?

The Philippines currently has four main community quarantine classifications, according to the Omnibus Guidelines on Community Quarantine:

General Community Quarantine (GCQ) is the implementation of temporary measures that limit movement and transportation, regulate operating industries, and require the presence of uniformed personnel to enforce quarantine protocols.

Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) is basically a stricter GCQ. The implementation of temporary measures imposes stringent limitations on movement and transportation of people, strict regulation of operating industries, provision of food and essential services, and heightened presence of uniformed personnel.

Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) is the transition between ECQ and GCQ, where temporary measures are relaxed.

Modified General Community Quarantine (MEGCQ) is the transition between GCQ and the New Normal, where temporary measures become less necessary. This is the category with the most relaxed restrictions.

 

Religious activities

This includes wakes, weddings, baptisms, and the like.

Under ECQ, only virtual religious gatherings are allowed. Necrological services, wakes, inurnment, wakes, and funerals for those who died of causes other than COVID-19 shall be allowed, limited to immediate family members.

Under MECQ, only 10% of capacity is allowed. LGUs may also increase up to 30% capacity, limited only to intermediate family members. This also applies to GCQ with Additional Heightened Restrictions for Cebu.

Under GCQ and GCQ with Additional Heightened Restrictions, only up to 10% capacity is allowed. LGUs can increase up to 30% as well.

Under MGCQ, up to 50% of capacity is allowed.

 

Interzonal travel from NCR Plus Areas

Interzonal travel is the movement of people, goods, and services across areas placed under different community quarantine classifications.

Under ECQ, MECQ, and GCQ with Additional Heightened Restrictions, only APORs or Authorized Persons Outside Residence are allowed.

Under GCQ and MGCQ, interzonal travel is allowed but is subject to restrictions of the LGU.

Under GCQ with Heightened Restrictions, interzonal travel is also allowed, subject to LGU restrictions for Point-to-point travel, any age group is allowed to travel but is subject to testing-before-travel requirements.

 

Intrazonal travel within NCR Plus Areas

Intrazonal travel is the movement of people, goods, and services between localities under the same community quarantine classification, without transiting through an area placed under a different classification.

Under ECQ and MECQ, only APORs are allowed for intrazonal travel.

For GCQ, GCQ with Additional Heightened Restrictions, and GCQ with Heightened Restrictions, only APORs are allowed for intrazonal travel, and their movement is limited to accessing essential goods and for work in permitted establishments or other activities allowed in the area.

Intrazonal travel is not applicable under MGCQ.

On allowed aged groups

Under all classifications, only ages 18-65 may leave their homes. But for areas under GCQ, GCQ with Heightened Restrictions, and GCQ with Additional Heightened Restrictions, fully vaccinated senior citizens are allowed to go out as long as they present their duly issued COVBID-19 vaccination card.

 

Who are APORs?

According to the omnibus guidelines issued by the IATF, the following are considered APORs or Authorized Personnel Outside Residence:

• Health and emergency frontline services and uniformed personnel
• Government officials and employees on office travel
• Duly authorized humanitarian assistance actors
• Persons traveling for medical or humanitarian reasons
• Those leaving their residence for a vaccination with proof of schedule
• Persons availing of DFA consular services with confirmed appointments
• Persons going to and from the airport, including OFWs with Overseas Employment Certificates
• Persons traveling for work, business, or activity permitted in areas under ECQ
• Public utility vehicle operators

For non-APOR drivers:

 

As of writing, the Philippines has recorded over 1,620,000 positive COVID-19 cases with 66, 895 active cases and 28,427 deaths. As of August 3, 2021, over 9.8 million Filipinos, or 8.92% of the population have been vaccinated.

 

MORE:

ECQ in NCR: Important Restrictions to Take Note Of for August 2021
PSA: Passport Appointments at NCR Consular Offices Are Suspended During ECQ