Metro Manila mayors to ban entry of unvaccinated in public transport, malls, restos under Alert Level 3—MMDA
Unvaccinated individuals in Metro Manila are now mandated to stay at home unless it is for essential travel, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced on Monday, Jan. 3.
MMDA chairman Benhur Abalos announced that all Metro Manila mayors have “agreed in principle” that unvaccinated adults and minors should remain in their homes except for essential trips and procurement of essential goods and services as Metro Manila is placed under Alert Level 3.
“Para kang nag-ECQ only for the unvaccinated. Ito ay temporary lamang since nasa Alert Level 3 tayo para ma-proteksyunan ang mga walang bakuna… Dapat nasa bahay lang sila. Puwede silang lumabas kung bibili lang sila ng essential goods and services,” Abalos said.
Abalos said unvaccinated individuals are prohibited from entering malls, public transport, restaurants, indoor and al fresco dining, hotels, event venues, sports and country clubs, and other similar establishments.
However, individual outdoor activities are allowed “regardless of vaccination status.”
Abalos said individuals must present their identification and vaccination cards upon entry into establishments.
A negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test will also be required for unvaccinated adults every two weeks to be allowed for on-site work in NCR.
Abalos, however, noted that an antigen test can be used as a substitute for testing, if the result of the RT-PCR tests is not yet available.
“This resolution shall be enforced and in effect, while the COVID-19 alert level in NCR is at Alert Level 3 or higher, and shall be automatically lifted once Alert Level 2 or lower is declared,” Abalos said.
As per the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), intrazonal and interzonal travel is subject to reasonable restrictions that may be implemented by LGUs.
Metro Manila has been placed under Alert Level 3 from Jan. 3 to 15 in response to the significant rise in COVID-19 cases, Malacañang announced on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021.
The Philippines logged in 4,600 additional COVID-19 cases, pushing the total reported cases to 2,851,931, as of Jan. 2.