This Week in Metro Manila (July 18 to 24, 2020)

President Rodrigo Duterte announced the quarantine level for the national capital region (NCR) and other areas in the Philippines from July 16 to 31 [1]. Areas that will be in GCQ include the following:

• NCR

• Laguna

• Cavite

• Rizal

• Lapu Lapu City

• Mandaue City

• Ormoc City

• Southern Leyte

• Talisay

• Minglanilla

• Consolacion in Cebu Province

• Zamboanga City

• Butuan City

• Agusan del Norte

• Basilan

Meanwhile, moderate-risk areas under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) are the following:

• Benguet

• Baguio City

• Ilocos Sur

• Pangasinan

• Ilocos Norte

• La Union

• Dagupan City

• Cagayan

• Isabela

• Nueva Vizcaya

• Bataan

• Nueva Ecija

• Pampanga, Bulacan

• Tarlac

• Zambales

• Angeles City

• Batangas

• Quezon

• Lucena City

• Oriental Mindoro

• Occidental Mindoro

• Puerto Princesa City

• Albay

• Masbate

• Camarines Norte

• Camarines Sur

• Catanduanes

• Sorsogon

• Naga City

• Iloilo

• Negros Occidental

• Capiz

• Antique

• Aklan

• Guimaras

• Iloilo City

• Bacolod City

• Negros Oriental

• Bohol

• Cebu Province

• Western Samar

• Leyte

• Biliran

• Tacloban City

• Zamboanga del Sur

• Zamboanga Sibugay

• Zamboanga del Norte

• Misamis Occidental

• Bukidnon

• Lanao del Norte

• Cagayan de Oro City

• Iligan City

• Davao Oriental

• Davao del Norte

• Davao del Sur

• Davao de Oro

• Davao City

• Sultan Kudarat

• Cotabato

• South Cotabato

• General Santos City

• Lanao del Sur

• Maguindanao

Areas that are not listed are classified under low-risk MGCQ.

A shorter curfew is now in effect at Malabon City under City Ordinance No. 13-2020 signed on June 22. The curfew is now between 10:00 PM to 5:00 AM from the previous 8:00 PM to 5:00 AM. Residents going to and from work are exempted from the ordinance, but they must present proof of employment. Other exemptions include workers for public transportation services, city government personnel, and emergency cases deemed valid by the IATF. Violators will pay a fine of PhP1,000 for the first offense, PhP2,000 for the second, and PhP5,000 for the third and subsequent offense [2].

Mayor Toby Tiangco signed Executive Order TMT-038 which puts Navotas into strict city-wide lockdown from July 16 to July 29. Under the ordinance, residents who work outside Navotas are allowed leave, while non-residents who work in the city are allowed to enter. Delivery of goods from outside the city is allowed, but food deliveries are not [2]. Elders and children below 21 years old are not allowed to go out except for medical emergencies. Leisure activities and exercises are also prohibited.

Moreover, the scheduling of quarantine passes per barangay will also be done to lessen the volume of market goers. Only one person per household is allowed to go out. The schedules are as follows:

• Barangays SRV

• NBBS Kaunlaran

• Bangkulasi

• BBS

• Navotas East

• Sipac-Almacen

• Daanghari

• Tangos North

• Tanza 1

• NBBS Proper

• NBBS Dagat-Dagatan

• NBBN

• BBN

• Navotas West

• San Jose

• San Roque

• Tangos South

• Tanza 2

Random polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testings will also be conducted during the entire lockdown. As of July 13, the city currently has a total of 981 confirmed cases—576 are active, 341 are recoveries, and 64 are deaths.

The Light Rail Transit (LRT-1) management discourages passengers from talking while inside the train. Light Rail Manila Corp. (LMRC) spokesperson Jacqueline Gorospe said that the “no talking” rule is just a reminder and there won’t be any penalty. Gorospe added that passengers can still take quick phone calls as long as the calls are very urgent and that they keep their mask on the entire time. The “no talking” measure aims to lessen droplet transmission among passengers. Marshals will also be monitoring the trains for observance of other safety measures [3]. To date, the LRT-1 and LRT-2 do not have any reported confirmed COVID-19 cases.

A new guideline from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) eases restrictions on grooming services such as hair salons and barber shops. Starting July 16, salons and barber shops in GCQ areas were allowed to operate at 50% capacity, a bump from the previous 30%. The venue should also allow adequate physical distancing and must follow standard safety measures. Protocols that must be followed include mandatory wearing of face masks, hand sanitation, and use of PPEs such as gloves and face shield and sterilized tools [4].

Meanwhile in MGCQ areas, barbershops and hair salons can now operate at 75% and can only offer the following services:

• all haircut services

• hair-treatment services

• nail-care service

• makeup

• eyebrow threading

• eyelash extension

• facial massage

• waxing

• threading

• shaving

• foot and hand spas

Safety measures that will be imposed in MGCQ salons and barbershops include mandatory wearing of face masks, signing of health declaration for contact tracing, thermal scanning, sterilization of tools and equipment, physical distancing, provision of rubbing alcohol, appropriate ventilation, and the refusal of entry for client’s companion and sick individuals.

Walk-ins are now allowed for the free COVID-19 testing in Pasig City barangay health centers, Mayor Vico Sotto announced on his Twitter page last July 12. According to Sotto, patients with COVID-19 symptoms will be prioritized. The tests will be using a combination of PCR and enhanced chemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA). PCR has been regarded as the “gold standard” for coronavirus testing while ECLIA is a new kind of antibody testing using blood samples. Sotto also added that the Pasig City LGU will be using two PCR machines at the referral center by this week [5].

St. Luke’s Medical Center started to offer their drive-thru RT-PCR or swab testing last July 13. The services are available at both Taguig and Quezon City branches. The test is for asymptomatic patients and will be available daily from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM in BGC and 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM in Quezon City. Appointments can be set on weekdays between 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and it is recommended for patients to set an appointment via the hospitals’ contact numbers at least two days prior. More information can be found on St. Luke’s Medical Center’s official Facebook page [6].

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