Operational Guidelines on the Application of the Zoning Containment Strategy in the Localization of

the National Action Plan Against COVID-19 Response

(See NTF Memorandum Circular No. 02, Series 2020 -

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LLfV739mwVTZZe21242IXdmdaqXQlC3g/view)

 Issued by the National Task Force Against COVID-19 dated June 15, 2020

 Classification – Areas in LGUs shall be categorized into:

1. Critical Zone (CrZ) are where initial number of cases or several clustering of cases are
identified within the past 7 days
2. Containment Zone (CZ) are areas without new cases but adjacent to CrZ
3. Buffer Zone (BZ) are areas without new cases but adjacent to CZ
4. Areas Outside Buffer Zone (OBZ) all remaining areas without new cases not categorized as
CZ or BZ.

 Geographical Units and Parameters– Above-mentioned classifications shall be applied to

following:

1. House – a single-unit residential building or enclosed physical structure; it may be a condo

unit, townhouse unit, apartment unit, dorm unit/room; a house will be categorized as CrZ if
at least one (1) case of either a suspect, probable and/or confirmed COVID-19 is present

2. Residential Building – classified as CrZ if at least two (2) cases of either suspect, probable
and/or confirmed COVID-19 are present in two (2) different units in the same floor, or two (2)
different floors.

3. Business/Work establishment
i. Small with less than 1000 resident occupants --- CrZ if at least one (1) cluster of cases
composed of either suspect, probable an/or confirmed COVID-19, where individuals
identified have been physically reporting for the past 14 days.
ii. Large with 1000 or more resident occupants --- CrZ if at least two (2) clusters of cases
composed of either suspect, probable or confirmed COVID-19, where EACH cluster of
cases is reported from separate buildings, floors, wings or annexes of the business
establishment, and where individuals identified have been physically reporting for
the past 14 days

4. Subdivision of Village – classified as CrZ if at least four (4) clusters of cases, composed of
either suspect, probable an/or confirmed COVID-19, are reported in at least two (2) different
streets or blocks.

Note: Cluster of cases refers to cases of 2 or more suspect, probable, positive, aggregated in
certain area per time period (14 days).

 Specific Zoning Interventions and Activities.

1. CrZ
i. Perimeter control: Extremely restrictive movement and perimeter control
 - Upon classification as CrZ, the Local Task Force shall enforce within 24 hours
extremely restrictive perimeter control upon which movement of individuals,
regardless of age and health, within inbound and outbound the CrZ is strictly
prohibited, except for emergency instances such as medical and surgical procedures
and treatments, as determined by LTF.
- LTF shall place physical reminder such as signs and cues of the boundaries and
points of entry, with clear instructions and are strategically placed in areas visible to
the public.

ii. Surveillance activities: Case Finding, Case Investigation, and Contact Tracing, and
Syndromic Surveillance
- Commencement of surveillance activities shall be done immediately
- Conduct of case investigation shall be done within 24 hours and contact tracing
should be initiated as soon as possible
- Active contact tracing shall be accomplished within 48 hours, and
- All close contacts shall be monitored and assessed for 14 days

iii. Mandatory Quarantine/Isolation and Treatment

- All persons with symptoms and all suspected, probably or symptomatic confirmed
COVID-19 cases should be immediately given medical mask and directed to single
room, and shall be isolated or quarantined in their respective LGU isolation and
quarantine facilities within 48 hours, even before laboratory test results may be
available.

iv. COVID-19 Testing

- LTF shall endeavor to conduct expanded (massive) testing utilizing RT-PCR or Gene
Xpert, and if deemed necessary by LTF, rapid diagnostic tests, ensuring that all
suspect and probable, and if possible, close contacts, are tested.

v. Disinfection Activity
- All areas visited by confirmed case shall be disinfected immediately within 24-48
hours.
- If possible, public areas visited by confirmed case shall be temporarily closed.

vi. Social Distancing

vii. Social Amelioration and Socioeconomic Mitigation

- LGUs shall provide assistance to affected families in CrZ

 Lifting of community quarantine imposed shall be done when all surveillance, testing and
quarantine/isolation intervention/activities have been completed, and the following are
achieved:
1. Tests of suspected cases are negative
2. No NEW suspect, probably or confirmed cases identified;
3. Completion of 14-day quarantine measures of individuals in the geographical unit