Understanding the IATF Alert Levels

*Alert Levels fall under the General Community Quarantine Guidelines and are instituted to take into consideration variables on vaccination and transmission rates in a particular area.

Alert Level 1: COVID-19 transmission is minimal and declining, as is total bed and intensive care unit utilization.

  • People will be allowed to move freely, with the exception of reasonable limits on activities and venues that are closed, crowded, or enable for close contact.
  • Except in areas subject to granular lockdowns, all establishments, persons, or activities are permitted to operate, work, or be undertaken at full on-site or venue/seating capacity as long as they adhere to minimal health standards.

Alert Level 2: A low transmission area with low healthcare utilization, or a low transmission area with increasing total bed and intensive care unit utilization.

  • Persons may move around with reasonable limits. Access to basic goods and services, as well as work in permitted businesses and offices.
  • Intrazonal and interzonal travel for those not otherwise obligated to stay at home may be allowed subject to the destination LGU’s reasonable limitations.
  • Anyone of any age can go outside, regardless of comorbidities or vaccinations.
  • Businesses with a Safety Seal will be allowed to operate at a ten percent (10%) higher capacity than those without.
  • While work-from-home and other flexible employment arrangements are allowed, agencies and instrumentalities of the government must maintain full operating capacity.

Exclusions: activities restricted to 50% of on-site or venue/seating capacity:

  • Indoor tourist attractions, museums, galleries, and cultural events, Indoor MICE venues
  • Indoor entertainment venues with live performers
  • Amusement parks, theme parks, funfairs/peryas, child rides, and playgrounds
  • Indoor recreation establishments
  • Indoor limited face-to-face classes, exams, and other education-related activities
  • Casinos, horse racing, cockfighting, and other gambling establishments
  • Funerals and wakes for persons who died from causes other than COVID-19
  • Social events and gatherings at residences with any person outside of one’s immediate household
  • Indoor dine-in services of food preparation establishments;
  • Indoor sports courts, fitness studios, gyms, spas, and swimming pools and personal care services.

Alert Level 3: COVID-19 transmission is high or growing, as is total bed and ICU utilization.

  • People may move freely, subject to acceptable age and comorbidity limits. So long as they can access basic goods and services, or work in permitted industries and offices.
  • Intrazonal and interzonal travel for non-residents may be authorized subject to the destination LGU’s reasonable limitations.
  • Anyone of any age can go outside, regardless of comorbidities or vaccinations.
  • The operation of indoor entertainment facilities such as cinemas and venues with live performers, and (ii) outdoor and indoor amusement parks or theme parks, funfairs/peryas, child rides, and playgrounds shall remain prohibited.
  • Government agencies and instrumentalities will operate at least 30 percent on-site while utilizing work-from-home and other flexible work arrangements.

Alert Level 4: COVID-19 transmission is increasing, as is total bed and ICU utilization.

  • People under the age of eighteen (18), over the age of sixty-five (65), pregnant women and those with immunodeficiencies, comorbidities, or other health risks are prohibited from leaving their homes, except when they shall obtain essential products and services, or work in permitted industries and offices.
  • The LGU of destination may allow intrazonal and interzonal travel for those not otherwise obligated to stay at home.
  • Individual outdoor exercises are allowed for all ages regardless of comorbidities or vaccination status, but must be done within the barangay, purok, subdivision, or village.
  • Any outdoor or al fresco dining service will be limited to 30% of the venue/seating capacity regardless of vaccination status.
  • Indoor dine-in services may be allowed at a 10% venue/seating capacity but will cater only to individuals fully vaccinated. Worker vaccination against COVID-19 is required.
  • Personal care services such as barbershops, hair salons, nail salons, and beauty salons will be allowed outdoors up to 30% of venue/seating capacity regardless of vaccination status.
  • Government entities will operate at least 20% capacity with work from home arrangements.
  • Outdoor religious meetings are permitted at a maximum of 30% venue/seating capacity regardless of vaccination status.
  • Ceremonial gatherings for persons who died from causes other than COVID-19 are permitted, providing they are limited to immediate family members and meet the minimal public health criteria.

Alert Level 5: The highest alert level relates to places with alarming COVID-19 transmission and critical bed and ICU use rates.

Areas classified with Alert Level 5 must follow the ECQ criteria set forth in the IATF Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines, as amended.