On Monday evening, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque announced the new community quarantine classifications that will be implemented across the country for the whole month of September.
As recommended by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, and the Cebu Province have been placed under the more relaxed Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) starting on September 1 to September 30, 2020.
On the other hand, IATF has also recommended GCQ status for the National Capital Region, Bulacan, Batangas, Tacloban, and Bacolod. Iligan City will be placed under the stricter MECQ.
Under MGCQ, more movement of people for non-essential purposes and more business sectors (especially tourism and personal grooming services) will be allowed.
MGCQ Guidelines
Cebu City Mayor Edgar Labella has recently issued the new Executive Order No. 89 specifying the MGCQ guidelines.
Now allowed under MGCQ:
- Tourist destinations (e.g. water parks, beaches, resorts)
- Gyms, fitness studios, sports facilities for non-contact sports
- Spas (full body massage)
- Tattoo and body piercing
- Internet and computer shops, educational support establishments, libraries, archives, and museums (allowed at 50 percent capacity)
- Pet grooming services, travel agencies, tour operators, and other personal care services
- Live events (subject to DOT guidelines on meetings, incentives, conventions, exhibitions, and business events)
- Dine-ins, barbershops, and salons are now allowed at 75% capacity
- Shopping malls are now allowed to operate until 10PM
- All other activities included under GCQ
Things to note:
- Quarantine Passes are still required for non-workers and QR coding is still in effect.
- QPasses ending in odd numbers (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) can go out on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays (5AM-1PM).
- QPasses ending in even numbers (0, 2, 4, 5, 8) on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays (1PM-9PM).
- Employees must present Company ID or Certificate of Employment (COE).
- Wearing of face masks is mandatory.
- Religious mass gatherings and other gatherings such as sporting events and work conferences can now accommodate up to 50% capacity.
- Persons under 21 years old and above 60 years old, people with underlying health conditions, and pregnant women are still mandated to stay-at-home.
Here is the latest Executive Order No. 89 specifying the MGCQ guidelines:
GCQ vs MGCQ
Here is a brief comparison between GCQ and MGCQ based on this infographic from Department of the Interior and Local Government – Region 10.
This page will be updated regularly and the Executive Order will be inserted here once available. Make sure to bookmark this page for updates.
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