NCR to remain under Alert Level 2 until Dec. 15 amid Omicron threat
Metro Manila will remain under the Alert Level 2 lockdown classification until Dec. 15, as approved by the country's Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) according to Cabinet Secretary and acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles.
Under Alert Level 2, establishments or activities are allowed to operate at a maximum of 50% indoor venue capacity for fully vaccinated individuals, including those below 18 years old who are unvaccinated. 70% outdoor venue capacity is also allowed given that all employees of the establishments are fully inoculated.
NCR has been under Alert Level 2 since Nov. 5 amid decelerating COVID-19 cases.
The Alert Level 2 extension comes amid the threat of the Omicron COVID-19 variant, with the World Health Organization classifying the new variant as a "variant of concern" due to its number of mutations and early evidence of increased reinfection.
As of writing, the Philippines has not recorded a case of the Omicron variant, although the IATF has placed more countries under the "red list" of high-risk COVID-19 areas. They have also considered the reimposition of face shields.
Areas also under Alert Level 2 are:
Cordillera Administrative Region: Benguet, Abra, Kalinga, Baguio City, Mountain Province, and Ifugao
Region I: Dagupan City, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, La Union, and Pangasinan
Region II: Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and City of Santiago
Region III: Angeles City, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Olongapo City, Pampanga, Zambales, and Tarlac
Region IV-A: Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, and Lucena City
Region IV-B: Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Puerto Princesa City, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan
Region V: Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Masbate, and Naga City
Region VI: Aklan, Antique, Bacolod City, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Iloilo City, and Negros Occidental
Region VII: Bohol, Cebu, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor
Region VIII: Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Ormoc City, Southern Leyte, Tacloban City, and Western Samar
Region IX: City of Isabela, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay
Region X: Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro City, Camiguin, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, and Misamis Oriental
Region XI: Davao City, Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, and Davao Oriental
Region XII: General Santos City, North Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat
Region XIII (Caraga): Butuan City, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat Islands, and Agusan del Norte
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao: Basilan, Cotabato City, Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, Lanao del Sur, and Maguindanao
