Type of Intervention: Regulation, Specific Action
Sectors Involved: Civil Defence, Executive Office, Finance/Economy, Health, Local Government, Private Sector and Businesses, Police and Interior Affairs, Tourism, Transportation
Intervention Categories: Listening to scientists or health/other experts
Level of Jurisdiction: National
Lead People/Agency: IATF
Overview: IATF released the risk classifications of regions, provinces, and cities placed under community quarantine guidelines.
– Several geographical areas of the country shall BE classified under low-risk, medium-risk, and high-risk areas. New quarantine guidelines shall take effect beginning May 16, 2020.
– The following areas are classified as low-risk areas and shall no longer be on community quarantine: Region I, Region IV-B, Region V, Region VI, Region VIII, Region X, Region XII, and BARMM
– Areas classified as medium-risk areas and are now placed under General Community Quarantine (GCQ): CAR, Region II, Region III, Region IV-A, Region VII, Region IX, Region XI, and Region XIII (CARAGA)
– Areas classified as high-risk areas and are now placed under modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ): Province of Laguna, All cities and municipalities of Metro Manila, and Cebu City.
Full details here: https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/downloads/2020/05may/20200511-IATF-RESOLUTION-NO-35.pdf
Type of Justification: Advice of INTERNAL government advisory committee or group
Source of Evidence or Justification: National – academic, National – government
Evidence/Justification: On 30 March 2020, the IATF created a sub-technical working group to develop a science-based approach in determining whether the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) should be lifted or extended by defining the parameters in assessing the Philippine’s COVID-19 situation. And on 3 April 2020, the IATF was able to finalize the parameters for the lifting or extending of the ECQ in Luzon. The parameters included trends on the COVID-19 epidemiological curve, health capacity of the country, social factors, economic factors, and security factors.
On 11 May 2020, the IATF was convened to analyze current scientific data and apply the parameters to determine the correct community quarantine or social distancing measures that should be implemented in different areas. Therefore, the risk classification of areas were finalized and those who were classified as low-risk would no longer be under community quarantine, those that were identified under moderate-risk would be placed under the General Community Quarantine, and high-risk areas would be under the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine.