Is it safe to go outside?

Vanny Sanclaria
3 min readJan 5, 2022

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IATF put Metro Manila in Alert Level 3 after an incident.

Photo by Adam Nieścioruk on Unsplash

The past year has been tough. It brought the market to its knees, people fought for their lives and made them yearn for hope in finding the solution for this almost never-ending problem. Filipino citizens are like caged birds during these period as the pandemic rise and protocols start to take place. Regardless, we did our best and survive.

However, with the problems we’ve encountered in the past year, there’s a new possible reason for us to be placed in lock down again. A new variant of the existing virus starts entering the country due to unspecified reasons. People are left to follow certain guidelines once again.

The problem right now is that people are still confused about the do’s and don’ts during these trying times. A simple gathering can cost you a penny as a penalty and even worse due to viral transmission, your life!

Different Alert Levels

Here’s to state the gravity of each level:

Alert level 1

  • Traveling is allowed regardless of age and comorbidities.
  • Work is possible given that the people in the vicinity are following the protocols stated by the government.
  • Face to face classes for basic education are subject for the approval of the Office of the President.
  • External activities are allowed given that they are following the protocols.

Alert Level 2

  • Traveling is allowed but is subject to certain restrictions based on age and comorbidities.
  • Work is possible given that the people in the vicinity are following the protocols stated by the government. Establishments must abide by the 50% capacity in physical stores.
  • Face to face classes for basic education are subject for the approval of the Office of the President.
  • Some external activities aren’t allowed and they should always follow the standard protocol.

Alert Level 3

  • Traveling is allowed but is subject to certain restrictions based on age and comorbidities.
  • Work is possible given that the people in the vicinity are following the protocols stated by the government. Establishments must abide by the 50% capacity in physical stores. Establishments that are deemed to be a high risk for transmission are not allowed to operate.
  • Some contact sports are prohibited but are to be performed in a “Bubble”.
  • Face to face classes for basic education are subject for the approval of the Office of the President.

Alert Level 4

  • Traveling is allowed but is subject to certain restrictions based on age and comorbidities.
  • Only vaccinated individuals are deemed to perform external activities.
  • Work is possible given that the people in the vicinity are following the protocols stated by the government. Establishments must abide by the 30% capacity in physical stores. Establishments that are deemed to be a high risk for transmission are not allowed to operate.
  • Face to face classes for basic education are subject for the approval of the Office of the President.
  • Burial, wake, and other necrological services are prohibited given that the deceased isn’t a covid patient.

Alert Level 5

  • Set up is similar to total lockdown.

What are the things that we need to avoid?

Large gatherings are not prohibited. Any social gatherings, party, meetings are advised to be held online. Crematoriums and burial grounds should also be avoided as the the government states.

What does the government do during lockdowns?

At this particular moment, the government should facilitate the proper disinfection and contact tracing to prevent the further spread of the virus. They are also responsible for holding granular lockdowns and monitoring any subsequent actions the lockdown brings.

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Vanny Sanclaria
Vanny Sanclaria

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