Should unvaxxed people remain in their homes? [Poll of the Week]

The Metro Manila Council (MMC), composed of Metro Manila mayors, have agreed to implement enhanced restriction on unvaccinated individuals due to the spike in new COVID-19 cases. 

Unvaccinated individuals have limited movement in Metro Manila Alert Level 3

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benhur Abalos through the MMDA Resolution No. 22-01 is urging local government units (LGUs) in the National Capital Region (NCR) to enact their respective ordinances in regards to limiting, and regulating the movement of unvaccinated individuals. 

Abalos said in a press conference that unvaccinated individuals shall remain inside their homes at all times, and limit their outside movement to essential trips only as NCR shifts to Alert Level 3. This is to help mitigate the surge in new COVID-19 cases, especially in Metro Manila.

The MMDA chairman explained that all LGUs in NCR will not allow entry of unvaxxed individuals in shopping malls, restaurants, and public transport during Alert Level 3. Unvaxxed individuals will have limited movement and are only allowed to get or buy essential goods, a similar protocol implemented during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) classification.   

The Metro Manila Council agreed to limit the movement of unvaccinated individuals

“Despite the availability of vaccines, there is a number of individuals who adamantly opt not to be vaccinated and thus, become more susceptible to severe cases of COVID-19 infection which will in turn require hospital care thereby unduly burdening the health care system to the detriment of public health,” stated in MMDA Resolution No. 22-01.

Metro Manila mayors agreed that unvaccinated individuals in NCR shall adhere to the following guidelines: 

1. Remain in their residences at all times except for the procurement of essential goods and services such as, but not limited to, food, water, medicine, medical devices, public utilities, and energy, work, and medical and dental necessities; Provided, however, that individual outdoor exercise shall be allowed within the general area of their residence, e. g., within the barangay, purok, subdivision, or village subject to the guidelines of the Metro Manila LGUs.

2. Be prohibited in indoor and outdoor/al fresco dining in restaurants and other food establishments and shall likewise be prohibited from leisure or social trips to malls, hotels, event venues, sports and country clubs, and similar facilities in accordance with the guidelines of the Metro Manila LGUs and the concerned establishments.

Unvaxxed individuals are not allowed to go out of their homes, except for essential trips. 

3. Be prohibited in domestic travel via public transportation by land, sea, and air except for the procurement of essential goods and services such as, but not limited to, food, water, medicine, medical devices, public utilities, and energy, work, and medical and dental necessities subject to the production of proof to support and justify such travel.

4. Be required to undergo a Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT PCR) test every two (2) weeks at their personal expense and present a COVID-19 negative result prior to being admitted for work onsite consistent with the guidelines, rules, and regulations issued by the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) and the Department of Labor and Employment; Provided, however, that in the event that the RT PCR test and/or result is/are not immediately available, a Rapid Antigen Test may be utilized in lieu thereof.

The MMDA Resolution No. 22-01 added that the same guidelines will cover individuals who reside outside of NCR but work and/or travel to the region. 

Any individual or establishment found violating the said guidelines will face a fine of not less than Php 20,000 but not more than Php 50,000. The individual or establishment may also face imprisonment of not less than one month but not more than six months. 

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) decided to put NCR in Alert Level 3 until January 15, 2022 due to the increasing COVID-19 cases. The Department of Health (DOH) has also confirmed 10 new cases of the Omicron variant as of this writing.  

The Department of Health is urging individuals to get vaccinated against COVID-19

The data from the DOH retained hospitals showed that 85 percent of COVID-19 patients that are confined in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) are not vaccinated. 

With the surge in new COVID-19 cases, do you think that the move to limit the movement of unvaxxed individuals is a sensible move? Cast your vote now in Philkotse’s Poll of the Week.