What Parents should know about the Metro Manila Community Quarantine

Be informed and stay safe, mamas 😷

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On March 12, 2020, President Rodrigo Duterte declared that the country is under Code Red Sub-Level 2 amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. This comes after the Department of Health’s (DOH) announcement that the country has 59 confirmed cases of the disease.

This is the country’s highest alert level raised and with it comes several directives which are also stated in a resolution agreed upon by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases. These directives aim to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Here are a few things we need to know about the Metro Manila community quarantine:

    • Classes in all levels in Metro Manila are suspended until April 12, 2020. Students are instructed to remain in their respective homes during this period.
    • Mass gatherings, defined as events where the number of people attending could strain the planning and response resources of the community host, are discouraged.
    • The entire Metro Manila is placed under community quarantine, with the following guidelines for the respective covered local government units (LGUs)
      • A barangay-wide quarantine is advised for barangays with at least 2 positive COVID-19 cases
      • A municipality/city-wide quarantine is advised for municipalities/cities with at least 2 positive COVID-19 cases
      • A province-wide quarantine is advised for provinces with at least 2 positive COVID-19 cases (even if the confirmed cases belong to different municipalities, component cities, or independent component cities of the same province)
      • LGUs who have imposed a community quarantine in their respective jurisdictions upon the declaration of a State of Calamity can then access their Quick Response Fund
    • Work in the executive branch is suspended, except for a skeletal force by government agencies. The same is encouraged for the Congress and Judiciary. On the other hand, law enforcement agencies, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, plus health and emergency frontline services will continue to be fully operational.
    • The private sector is encouraged to adopt flexible work arrangements, following the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) guidelines which are designed to safeguard the workers’ welfare. However, all manufacturing, retail, and service establishments will remain in operation in the same period, provided that strict social distancing measures are observed.
    • Mass public transports, including the Light Rail Transits, Metro Rail Transit, and the Philippine National Railway will continue to operate, following the Department of Transportation’s guidelines on social distancing.
    • Land, domestic air, and domestic sea travel to and from Metro Manila is suspended from March 15, 2020 (beginning midnight), until April 14, 2020, 11:59 pm. All measures are subject to the daily assessment of the IATF.
    • Overseas Filipino Workers may be allowed to go back to work and travel to mainland China, except Hubei Province, upon declaration that they are aware and understand the risks involved in their travel.
    • Entry travel restrictions will be imposed upon travelers from countries with localized COVID-19 transmissions, except for Filipino citizens including their foreign spouse and children.

Be good and stay safe, mamas!

References: Inquirer, OneNews

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