Barbershops, Salons, Dine-in Services And Other Sectors May Operate At 50 Percent Capacity Under MGCQ

Barbershops, salons and other personal care service establishments, and other industries not permitted under the more stringent quarantine protocols will be allowed to resume operations under the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) but only at half capacity of their venues.

The same rule will apply to dine-in service in food retail establishments such as supermarkets, grocery stores and food production establishments and Category 4 industries that are barred from operating under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), modified ECQ (MECQ) and GCQ based on the guidelines released by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Other businesses that belong to Category 4 are gyms, fitness studios and sports facilities; entertainment establishments such as cinemas, theaters and karaoke bars; children’s amusement industries, libraries, archives, museums and cultural centers; tourist destinations such as water parks, resorts and beaches; travel agencies, tour operators, reservation service and related activities, and personal care services such as massage parlors, sauna, facial care and waxing.

All permitted establishments and activities under ECQ, MECQ and GCQ may operate at full capacity under MGCQ.  See the sectors under different categories here: LIST: Sectors allowed under ECQ, MECQ, GCQ

 On Saturday, May 30, the government announced that Zamboanga City and Central Visayas will also be under GCQ. Read more: Zamboanga City, Central Visayas also under GCQ by June 1; Guidelines for barbershops and salons under GCQ, MGCQ released

Individual and group outdoor exercises including non-contact sports like golf, tennis, table tennis and swimming will also be permitted under MGCQ.

The government issued the guidelines for MGCQ, the most lenient quarantine scenario, as part of the transition phase between the GCQ and the so-called new normal after new quarantine classifications were announced in the middle of this month.

On Thursday night, May 28, President Duterte placed the National Capital Region (NCR), Region 2 (Cagayan Valley), Region 3 (Central Luzon), Region 4-A (Calabarzon), Albay, Pangasinan and Davao City under GCQ starting June 1 “until we have reviewed the general situation” amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

NCR or Metro Manila, Laguna (which is part of Region 4-A), Region 3 (Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Zambales, Pampanga, Angeles City except Aurora) have been under MECQ since May 15.

The fate of Mandaue and Cebu cities, which are still under enhanced community quarantine, was not discussed.

While Regions 2, 3, 4-A, Albay, Pangasinan and Davao City will remain under GCQ based on the President’s pronouncement, the rest of the country will shift to MGCQ.

Once an area transitions from GCQ to MGCQ, all persons will be allowed outside their houses, although minimum public health standards will still have to be complied with. The presence of uniformed personnel to enforce protocols will become less necessary.

Under the more stringent MECQ, only five participants may attend gatherings while 10 people may do so in GCQ areas. Public gatherings are not allowed under the ECQ, the strictest scenario.

These rules make MGCQ practically the only quarantine scenario that allows the holding of public masses. The number of people that can join religious gatherings under the MECQ and GCQ guidelines is so small that participants will be limited to the preacher, his assistants, readers, choir members, and the technical crew of churches that hold online masses.

On Thursday, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said religious groups have submitted to the government detailed and doable proposals for the conduct of church activities in areas that are still under quarantine.

The proposals were discussed during a virtual meeting between members of the IATF and leaders of religious organizations last Tuesday. 

"The IATF members who attended were happy because the proposals were detailed and it seems that they can be implemented. But for now, there is no decision (on allowing public religious gatherings)," Roque said in a virtual a press briefing.

"I think in the coming weeks, the proposals of the religious (groups) will be included in the agenda. If not on Friday, it may be part of the agenda next week so let's wait for the decision of the IATF," he added.

Weeks before the meeting between religious groups and the IATF, the Archdiocese of Manila issued "new normal" protocols for church activities, including allotting half-hour gaps between masses to disinfect worship places, holding masses outside churches, and limiting the number of people who can attend weddings and baptisms.

Classes to resume, but...

Under the MGCQ guidelines, higher educational institutions in MGCQ areas will be allowed to conduct face-to-face classes but should observe health standards and guidelines set by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). Mass gathering of students will still be prohibited.

However, it has been announced that no face-to-face or physical classes will be allowed, even enrollment, until it is declared safe by the government to do so. On Monday, Duterte said he prefers not to have classes until a vaccine is discovered for COVID-19 but agreed on Thursday night to DepEd’s proposal for blended learning or the use of alternative modes of education.

He told DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones that the use of online platforms, radio, television and other means to let children continue their education in the safety of their homes was feasible. As he approved the DepEd’s plan, he also assured Briones of then government’s complete support, including funding, to make the program work.

For K-12 Basic Education, schools should adopt the learning continuity plan of the DepEd, the guidelines read.

The government recently approved CHED’s recommendation to open schools based on the manner of delivering classes. Higher learning educational institutions using full online education can open any time while those that have adopted flexible learning, which involves the use of both online and face-to-face classes, can start classes in August.

Institutions using significant residential or face-to-face learning mode cannot open earlier than Sept. 1 in GCQ areas. These guidelines, however, were issued before the President expressed his opposition to face-to-face or physical classes without a vaccine.

Work and transportation protocols

Public and private offices in MGCQ areas will be allowed to deploy all their personnel onsite, but companies should come up with alternative arrangements for persons who are 60 years old and above, those with health risks and pregnant women.

Government offices may operate at full operational capacity or may adopt alternative work arrangements as agencies may deem appropriate. Accredited diplomatic missions and international organizations may resume full operations.

Road, rail, maritime and aviation sectors of public transportation may operate but should abide by the guidelines on capacity to be issued by the Department of Transportation (DOTr). A strict one-meter distance between passengers should be observed.

Private transportation like company shuttles and personal vehicles will also be allowed, subject to the guidelines to be provided by the DOTr. The use of bicycles and other non-motorized transportation will be “strongly encouraged.”

All public and private construction projects will be permitted but should comply with social distancing and safety guidelines.