(SPOT.ph) With daily COVID-19 cases in the Philippines now ranging between 1,000 and 2,000 (and the latest, a sudden drop to 849), the country is opening up more places to the public. Cinemas, arcades, and other indoor spaces are also starting to welcome visitors while following health protocols. Kids are also shifting back to in-person classes as 100 public schools welcomed backed students on November 15, while 30 private schools were given the go signal for face-to-face classes starting November 22. The Inter-Agency Task Force on Wednesday also approved the Commission on Higher Education’s proposed phased implementation of limited in-person classes in universities under Alert Levels 1, 2, and 3.

Also read: Online Learning in the Time of COVID-19: A Day in the Life of a College Student

Here’s what to know about the limited face-to-face classes:

“By December, I was told by chair Popoy de Vera, na tuloy-tuloy ‘yan. They are doing readiness assessment activities to ensure parameters to allow reopening of schools are all complied with,” said Health Secretary Francisco Duque.

During Phase 1 of the program, only universities and colleges in regions under Alert Level 2 may apply for authorization and start limited face-to-face classes in December. During Phase 2, schools under Alert Level 3 may start in-person classes in January 2022. They’re required to retrofit facilities and to comply with minimum public health standards.

For schools in areas under Alert Level 1, full indoor and outdoor venue capacity is allowed as long as everyone’s fully vaccinated. Schools under Alert Level 2 can only have 50% capacity indoors and 70% capacity outdoors, whether or not students and teachers are fully vaccinated; and schools under Alert Level 3 can only have 30% capacity indoors and 50% capacity outdoors for fully vaccinated individuals only.

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