Updates from the July 20, 2020 IATF-EID Briefing

Good evening. Here are the updates from the 20 July 2020 IATF-EID briefing:

1. IATF-EID RESOLUTION NO. 56

• Foreign nationals with long-term visas are allowed to enter the Philippines beginning 01 August 2020, subject to the following conditions:

- Must have valid and existing visas at the time of entry; no new entry shall be accepted

- With pre-booked accredited quarantine facility

- With pre-booked COVID-19 testing provider

- Subject to maximum capacity of passengers at the port and date of entry

• Under GCQ, outdoor non-contact sports and other forms of exercise are allowed. Spectators in all non-contact sports and exercises shall be prohibited.

• Under MGCQ, indoor and outdoor non-contact sports and other forms of exercise are allowed. Spectators in all non-contact sports and exercises shall be prohibited.

• DTI, DOF, DILG, and DOT are authorized to gradually recategorize industries from Category III to Category IV.

• The resumption of gradual increase in operating capacity and continued operations of Category III Industries are subject to their proprietors' compliance with the proper health protocols set by DTI.

• The DTI is authorized to issue a negative list of industries which shall remain prohibited even in areas under MGCQ. Industries included in the negative list shall be prohibited to operate in any form of community quarantine.

2. EDUCATION

• RA 11480 or Act to Lengthen the School Calendar from 200 days to not more than 220 class days was signed into law on 17 July 2020.

• Start of the School Year (Section 3) - "The school year shall start on the 1st Monday of June, but not later than the last day of August. Provided, that in the event of a Declaration of a State of Emergency or State of Calamity, the President, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Education, may set a different date for the start of the school year in the country or parts thereof."

3. DILG OPLAN KALINGA

• DILG MC 2020-101 – “OPLAN KALINGA” or Guidelines in the Stricter Conduct of Home Quarantine for Mild and Asymptomatic COVID-19 Patients

• LCEs are enjoined to immediately perform the identification and transfer of COVID-19 positive individuals to identified quarantine/isolation and medical facilities within their respective jurisdiction through Oplan Kalinga.

• Home quarantine shall be permitted for mild or asymptomatic positive individuals only when they meet all of the following conditions:

- The patient has his/her own room

- The patient has his/her own bathroom and

- There is absence of household members who are vulnerable or have co-morbidities.

• Conduct of house visitations for the identification and immediate transfer of COVID-19 positives who will not meet the criteria shall be carried out by the local epidemiological surveillance units and BHERTs. Assistance of local police may be needed or warranted.

4. INITIATIVES OF THE CITY OF MANILA

• Drive-thru COVID-19 testing in Lawton and Quirino Grandstand (700 tests per day)

• Walk-in COVID-19 testing adjacent to hospitals also available

• All certificates of results will be delivered to individuals residing in Manila and individuals residing outside Manila can claim their certificates at the Quirino Grandstand.

• Separate quarantine facilities are available for COVID-19 patients that are undergoing dialysis and pregnant individuals.

• The City of Manila COVID-19 hospitals have a bed capacity of 171.

• The city provides free RT-PCR testing, which are forwarded to the GeneXpert Laboratory.

• The city purchased three (3) Abbott i-1000SR machines that can accommodate 16,800 tests per week and will be deployed at the Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center, Ospital ng Sampaloc, and Ospital ng Maynila.

• The city launched its own COVID-19 testing laboratory at the Sta. Ana Hospital where the Manila Infectious Disease Control Center is located.

• The city has 63 groups for contact tracing consisting of City Health personnel and BHWs.

5. INITIATIVES OF GUIGUINTO, BULACAN

• RT-PCR testing centers were inaugurated in 17 July 2020 and can accommodate 1,500 tests per day. It can expand to 5,000 tests per day through public-private partnership.

• Isolation centers can accommodate 35,000 beds.