Four Provinces on Alert Level 4 Until January 31

With the spike in COVID-19 cases in early January 2022, four provinces in the Philippines have been placed under Alert Level 4. The rapid spread of the Omicron variant has caused 15 other areas to be placed under Alert Level 3 starting on January 21 until January 31. The four provinces on Alert Level 4 are Kalinga, Ifugao, and Mountain Province in the Cordillera Autonomous Region and Northern Samar in Eastern Visayas.

Acting presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles made the announcement on Thursday night in light of total Philippine cases reaching 3,324,478 as of January 20.

What does Alert Level 4 mean?

Alert Level 4 is the second-highest alert level based on the guidelines on granular lockdowns. Under this level, people below 18 and over 65 and those with health risks must stay home unless they need to access essential goods and services. Another exception is if these individuals have to go to work. Pregnant women are also covered under these limitations.

Under Alert Level 4, a number of businesses or activities may operate or be undertaken. However, only up to 10% of indoor venues and 30% of outdoor venues will be allowed. These include venues for meetings and conferences and venues for social events such as parties, weddings receptions, birthday parties, etc. Also falling under this umbrella are visitor or tourist attractions, amusement parks, and recreational venues like internet cafes, billiard halls, and similar venues.

Fully vaccinated individuals will be allowed to participate in permitted activities.

Alert Level 4 restrictions

Several establishments and activities classified as high-risk for transmission will not be allowed to operate under Alert Level 4.

• Face to face or in-person classes for basic education, except those approved by the IATF and/or the Office of the President
• Face-to-face or in-person classes for higher education or for technical, vocational education and training, except those approved by the IATF and/or the Office of the President
• All contact sports, whether indoor or outdoor
• Cinemas and movie houses
• Funfairs/peryas and 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, bars, clubs, concert halls, and theaters
• Casinos, horse racing, cockfighting and operation of cockpits, lottery and betting shops, and other gaming establishments except as may be authorized by the IATF or the Office of the President
• Gatherings in residences with individuals not belonging to the same household

In September 2021, the entire National Capital Region (NCR) was placed on Alert Level 4 for two weeks. At the time, NCR mayors agreed to place the entire region under a single Alert Level then “for uniformity and easier enforcement within NCR,” said Interior Secretary Eduardo Año.

New areas under Alert Level 3

While those four provinces were placed under the second strictest classification, 15 more areas have been elevated to Alert Level 3. These include Apayao, Puerto Princesa City, and Masbate in Luzon. The only Visayas province added is Siquijor.

Meanwhile, several places in Mindanao were added such as Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, Lanao del Norte, Davao de Oro, Davao Oriental, and North Cotabato. Also placed under the classification were Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, Surigao del Norte, Maguindanao and Basilan in Mindanao.

Key takeaways

The rising numbers of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus in 2022 has caused the Philippine government to place four provinces under Alert Level 4 from January 21 to 31. Kalinga, Ifugao, Mountain Province, and Northern Samar were elevated to the second-highest classification based on granular level guidelines. This places limits on individuals under 18 and over 65 as well as pregnant women and people with health risks in those four areas.

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