MANILA - Metro Manila will be under COVID-19 Alert Level 2 from Nov. 5 to 21, the Inter-Agency Task Force announced Thursday.

• Metro Manila on COVID-19 Alert Level 2 from Nov. 5 to 21

According to the guidelines released by the IATF on Thursday, intrazonal and interzonal travel shall be allowed in areas under Alert Level 2.

Individual outdoor exercises are also allowed for all ages, regardless of comorbidities or vaccination status.

Indoor venues are allowed to accept a maximum of 50 percent capacity for fully vaccinated individuals and those below 18, even if unvaccinated.

Outdoor venues, on the other hand, are allowed to accommodate up to 70 percent of their capacity.

Among the establishments allowed to operated are the following:

• Venues for meetings, conferences and exhibitions
• Permitted venues for social events such as parties, wedding receptions and the like
• Visitor or tourist attractions such as libraries, archives, museums, galleries, exhibits, parks, plazas, public gardens, scenic viewpoints or overlooks, and the like
• Amusement parks or theme parks
• Recreational venues such as internet cafes, billiard halls, amusement arcades, bowling alleys, skating rinks, archery halls, swimming pools, and similar venues
• Cinemas and movie houses
• Limited face-to-face or in-person classes for basic education subject to prior approval of the Office of the President
• Limited face-to-face or in-person classes for higher education and for technical-vocational education and training
• In-person religious gatherings; gatherings for necrological services, wakes, inurnment, and funerals for those who died of causes other than COVID-19 and for the cremains of the COVID-19 deceased
• Licensure or entrance/qualifying examinations administered by their respective government agency, and specialty examinations authorized by the IATF subject to the health and safety guidelines as approved by the IATF
• Dine-in services of food preparation establishments such as kiosks, commissaries, restaurants, and eateries, subject to Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) sector-specific protocols
• Personal care establishments such as barbershops, hair spas, hair salons, and nail spas, and those offering aesthetic/cosmetic services or procedures, make-up services, salons, spas, reflexology, and other similar procedures including home service options, subject to the sector-specific protocols of the DTI
• Fitness studios, gyms and venues for individual non-contact exercise and sports are also allowed to operate, provided that all clients and employees wear face masks all the time and no group activities are conducted
• Film, music, and television production subject to the joint guidelines as may be issued by the DTI, DOLE, and the DOH
• Contact sports approved by the LGU where such games shall be held
• Funfairs/peryas or kid amusement industries such as playgrounds, playroom, and kiddie rides
• Venues with live voice or wind-instrument performers and audiences such as in karaoke bars, clubs, concert halls, and theaters

All workers and employees of said establishments should be fully vaccinated.

Gatherings in residences with individuals not belonging to the same household are also allowed under Alert Level 2.

Casinos, horse racing, cockfighting and operation of cockpits, lottery and betting shops, and other gaming establishments are still not allowed to operate, except when authorized by the IATF or the Office of the President.

Government agencies and offices, meanwhile, are allowed to have at least 50 percent on-site capacity while still applying work-from-home and other flexible work arrangements.

The Philippines on Thursday announced 1,766 new COVID-19 cases, falling for the second straight day below the 2,000-mark, data from the health department showed.

• PH logs 1,766 new COVID cases; fresh infections fall below 2,000 for 2nd straight day

Majority of the country reversed a Delta variant-caused surge in cases, according to OCTA Research. This can be attributed to wide vaccine coverage, lockdown, and the public's adherence to minimum health standards, the group's Prof. Guido David said.

• Majority of PH back to pre-Delta variant surge level, says OCTA Research

The government has also lifted the curfew in Metro Manila starting November 4.

• Curfew sa Metro Manila aalisin simula Nobyembre 4

It will also increase the capacity of the Philippine National Railways (PNR), Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Manila Light Rail Transit (LRT) to 70 percent.

• MRT, LRT at PNR, mas mataas na ang papayagang mga pasahero simula Nob. 4