Metro Manila has eased down to a more relaxed Alert Level 2 on Friday, November 5.

In an announcement on Thursday night, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the National Capital Region (NCR) will be placed under Alert Level 2 from November 5, 2021, until November 21, 2021.

He added that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases (IATF) also approved the recommendation to base alert level assignments on data that is nearest to the implementation date.

Starting December 1, 2021, alert level assignments shall be determined every 15th and 30th of the month, Roque said.

"Escalations, on the other hand, can be done at any time in the middle of the implementation period as warranted while de-escalations can only be done at the end of the two-week assessment period," Roque said in a statement.

The IATF directed the National Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTF), together with the Regional Task Forces and Regional IATFs, to provide weekly feedback on the progress and implementation on all areas identified for Alert Level System roll-out to the IATF.

Guidelines under Alert Level 2

Minors and those belonging to vulnerable populations must be allowed to access essential goods and services.

The following establishments/activities are allowed to operate at a maximum of 50% indoor venue capacity for fully vaccinated individuals and minors even if unvaccinated, and 70% outdoor venue capacity.

• Venues for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE);
• Permitted venues for social events such as parties, wedding receptions, engagement parties, wedding anniversaries, debut and birthday parties, family reunions, and bridal or baby showers;
• 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 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, subject to DTI sector-specific protocols. Provided that patrons/clients and workers/employees wear face masks at all times and that 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; and
• Gatherings in residences with individuals not belonging to the same household.

IATF added that individual outdoor exercises are allowed for all ages regardless of comorbidities or vaccination status.