Provincial administrator Kathyrin Pioquinto announced that the national Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) placed Bohol under Coronavirus disease (Covid) Alert Level 3 starting on Jan. 16, 2022 until Jan. 31, 2022.
She revealed the development during the weekly press conference at the Capitol on Jan. 14, 2022.
Pioquinto said that Bohol being under Covid Alert Level 3 is based on IATF Resolution 157-A on issued on Jan. 14, 2022. The Provincial Administrator said that Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) USec. Epimaco Densing confirmed that indeed Bohol is under Covid Alert Level 3, starting today.
Under Covid Alert Level 3, Pioquinto said that people have to remember the following:
- establishments shall be allowed to operate and activities are permitted to be undertaken up to a maximum 30% of the indoor venue capacity.
- Only fully vaccinated individuals are allowed to enter in establishments or engage in indoor activities.
- Outdoor activities and outdoor establishments shall be allowed only up to 50% of the venue capacity,
- Outdoor activities are allowed and outdoor businesses are permitted to operate as long as the personnel of the establishments are fully vaccinated against Covid.
- Minors and those who belong to the vulnerable population such as senior citizens and people with comorbidities are allowed access to obtain essential goods and services or to engage in work as long as they comply with existing laws and regulations.
- Individual indoor exercises are allowed for all ages regardless of comorbidity or vaccination status.
NOT ALLOWED
Pioquinto said that among the activities not allowed under Covid Alert Level 3 are:
- in-person classes for basic education, unless given an exemption;
- contact sports, except those conducted in a bubble environment;
- kid amusement establishments;
- events with live voice or wind instrument performances with audiences such as performances in karaoke bars, nightclubs, concert halls, and theaters.
Pioquinto also bared that casinos, horse racing, cockfighting and operation of cockpits, lottery and betting shops; and other gaming establishments, unless allowed by the IATF, are forbidden to operate under Covid Alert Level 3.
“Please take note, gatherings in residences with individuals not belonging to the same household is also prohibited,” Pioquinto quipped.
STATUS QUO ON ENTRY PROTOCOL
Even if Bohol is under Covid Alert Level 3, the entry protocol into Bohol remains the same. So everyone has to take note of the following:
* All persons who wish to enter Bohol need to show a vaccination card or vaccination certificate; * Unvaccinated persons need to show a negative real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result taken 72 hours prior to arrival in Bohol.
Pioquinto also said that due to connectivity problems in the province as a result of typhoon Odette, the S-Pass is not required.
The Bohol Tribune asked Pioquinto for the IATF’s reason in placing Covid Bohol under Alert Level 3. She answered by saying that the national IATF did not give any specific reason/s regarding the matter.
She surmised that probably the increasing number of Covid cases, proximity to areas where there are rising Covid cases and the impact of typhoon Odette could be the reasons for the IATF to place Bohol under Covid Alert Level 3.
Back in Oct. 2021, it can be remembered that the IATF placed Boholunder Covid Alert Level 2 from Covid Alert Level 4.