With the unalike levels of community quarantine set, it is quite normal to get confused about the differences between ECQ, MECQ, GCQ with heightened restrictions, GCQ, and MGCQ.
As the COVID-19 Pandemic continues to strike across the world, public health officials are monitoring certain mutations in the coronavirus. Certain regions in the country are experiencing another rise in the number of active cases.
Researches said that this early stage of surge could possibly be due to the discovered the Delta Variant. This Delta Variant is considered to spread more easily as it has mutations on the spike protein that makes it easier for it to infect humans.
As this more contagious variant continues to wreak havoc, IATF once again, recommended a lockdown varying from province to province to mitigate the spread of the more transmissible disease.
ECQ (Enhanced Community Quarantine)
ECQ has the most restrictions among all others. Curfew hours are strongly implemented. Both indoor and outdoor dining is not allowed and personal care services such as barbershops, salons, and parlors are also prohibited. Individuals aged 18 to 65 are the only ones allowed outside.
Those with health risks, pregnant, or with immunodeficiencies are required to stay home. Venues for meetings, conferences, and exhibitions shall not operate as well as entertainment venues (bars and theaters), recreational venues, indoor sports venues, and tourist attractions. Individual exercise within the barangay, however, is permitted.
MECQ (Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine)
Strict home quarantine is implemented. The movement of people should only be for accessing goods and services from permitted establishments. Gatherings outside of their residence aren’t allowed.
Religious gatherings shall be allowed but only at ten percent of the venue capacity. Wakes and funerals shall be limited to immediate family members only. Government offices are fully operational, albeit on a skeleton workforce on-site.
Biking is encouraged as road and rail transportation will only operate at such capacity and with protocols. Maritime and aviation sectors as well. Lastly, curfew hours may be imposed by the local government units.
GCQ with Heightened Restrictions
The difference between ECQ, MECQ, GCQ and MGCQ is that when in GCQ with heighened restrictions, food preparation establishments such as commissaries, restaurants, and eateries may operate with their indoor dine-in services at the venue or seating capacity of 20 percent, and with their al fresco or outdoor dine-in services at the venue or seating capacity of 50 percent.
Do take note also of the following guidelines during GCQ with Heights Restrictions:
- Personal care services, such as beauty salons, beauty parlors, barbershops, and nail spas, may operate up to 30 percent of venue or seating capacity. For this purpose, these establishments shall only provide services that can accommodate the wearing of face masks at all times by patrons/clients and service providers.
- Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE) events and social events in venue establishments shall not be allowed.
- Outdoor tourist attractions, as may be defined by the Department of Tourism (DOT), shall remain to be allowed at 30 percent venue capacity with strict adherence to minimum public health standards.
- Indoor sports courts and venues and indoor tourist attractions shall not be allowed to operate.
- Religious gatherings shall be allowed up to 10 percent of the venue capacity, provided that, there is no objection from the local government unit where the religious gathering may take place, and provided, further, that the LGU may increase the allowable venue capacity up to 30 percent. The
GCQ (General Community Quarantine)
GCQ is implemented in areas that saw quite a major drop in the number of active cases.
Movement outside the home is a bit more normal. Food preparation establishments may operate at 30-50% capacity indoors. On the other hand, outdoor dine-in services are at 75%. Testing and tutorial services, as well as review centers can operate with 75% capacity. Contact sports, scrimmages, games, and activities are still not allowed.
MGCQ (Modified General Community Quarantine)
Accessing essential goods and services is allowed. Work in offices and industries are permitted to operate as well. Below 18 years old and above 65 years old, those with immunodeficiency, or other health risks are still not allowed to roam around in public.
As we continue our efforts to achieve herd immunity, it is inevitable to undergo community quarantines time and time again. Although not ideal, it is one way of mitigating the further spread of the disease. It also becomes more apparent that there is a cyclic tendency of returning to the point where we initially found ourselves.
As an example, residents under the MGCQ often mistakenly interpret this type of community quarantine as the kind where everything can be done normally again. The complacency that this brings often result to the neglect of the minimum health protocols and thus lead to another surge in the number of people infected.
Whatever type of community quarantine is being implemented may it be ECQ, MECQ, GCQ or MGCQ, remember to be responsible and practice social distancing and sanitizing oneself. And ultimately, stay in the comfort of your own Bria Home and avoid infecting others or being infected yourself.
BRIA Homes is a subsidiary of GOLDEN MV Holdings, Inc., .one of the largest real estate companies in the country. BRIA Homes is primed to bring quality and affordable house and lot packages and condominium units closer to ordinary Filipino families. This is the goal that drives every single employee in the company, for which the ultimate fulfillment is seeing a client happily moving into BRIA’s homes.
To know more, visit their website at www.bria.com.ph, like and follow “Bria Homes, Inc.” on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, Spotify, Viber Community, Telegram Channel, Kakao Talk, LINE, and WhatsApp, or call 0939-887-9637.
Written by Ohrwyn Bautista
