The Department of Health is not considering reimposing strict mask rules in Metro Manila, where nearly 13 million people live, amid a slight increase in COVID-19 infections.
The wearing of masks became voluntary in indoor and outdoor settings in October. But masking remains mandatory in health-care facilities and public transportation.
But DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire urged the public to wear masks in crowded and poorly ventilated areas during a press briefing Tuesday.
Mask-wearing is also encouraged among the elderly, individuals with comorbidities, immunocompromised persons, and children.
Vergeire said the country’s isolation and quarantine protocols remain in place, adding asymptomatic close contacts of probable or confirmed cases who have been vaccinated with at least primary series shall not be required to undergo quarantine.
Partially vaccinated or unvaccinated asymptomatic close contacts of probable or confirmed cases shall quarantine for at least 14 days from the date of the last exposure, she said.
For the isolation of individuals with symptoms and suspect, probable, and confirmed cases, here are the guidelines:
— All suspect, probable, and confirmed cases who are asymptomatic or present with mild symptoms, and who have been vaccinated with at least primary series, shall isolate for at least seven days from the sample collection date or from onset of signs and symptoms, whichever is earlier.
— All suspect, probable, and confirmed cases who are asymptomatic or present with mild symptoms, and who are partially vaccinated or unvaccinated, shall isolate for at least 10 days from the sample collection date or from onset of signs and symptoms, whichever is earlier.
— All suspect, probable, and confirmed cases presenting with moderate symptoms, regardless of vaccination status, shall be isolated for at least 10 days from onset of signs and symptoms.
— All suspect, probable, and confirmed cases presenting with severe and critical symptoms, regardless of vaccination status, shall be isolated for at least 21 days from onset of signs and symptoms.
— All symptomatic severely immunocompromised confirmed cases shall be isolated for at least 21 days from onset of signs and symptoms, regardless of vaccination status.
Meanwhile, quarantine and isolation of Filipino and foreign nationals entering the Philippines shall comply with travel protocols by registering in the e-travel system.
Vergeire said the positivity rate last week was 6.9 percent which has increased this week to 7.6 percent.
The World Health Organization recommends a 5-percent threshold for COVID-19 positivity rate.
The country is averaging 371 daily coronavirus infections, according to Vergeire.
But she noted the positivity rate should not be used as the sole indicator to measure the country’s COVID-19 situation.
Demand for laboratory testing is falling as many people use antigen tests or choose to self-isolate to stop the spread of the virus, she added.
She also cited increased mobility among the public as the country recently observed the long weekend over the Holy Week while more sectors had opened up.
As of Sunday, some 356 cases or 9.1 percent of total COVID-19 admissions were in severe and critical condition, the latest national COVID-19 case bulletin showed.
At least 234 out of 1,900 or 12.3 percent of intensive care unit beds for COVID patients were occupied, the report added. The non-ICU bed utilization rate was at 17.4 percent.
Based on the DOH’s COVID-19 Tracker, the Philippines has 9,723 active COVID-19 cases as of April 17.
Since the pandemic broke out in March 2020, the country has recorded over 4,086,000 coronavirus infections. The death toll stood at 66,441.
In related developments, the DOH has signed the guidelines for the use of a second COVID-19 booster to the general population.
Vergeire said the guidelines would now be released to local government units.
Those eligible to receive the fourth jab include anyone over 18, pregnant and lactating women, and immunocompromised individuals, Vergeire said.
COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca will be used as the second booster.
As of March 20, more than 78.4 million Filipinos are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Of the figure, over 23.8 million have received their first booster dose while almost 4.4 million have gotten the second booster shots.
In Negros Occidental, meanwhile, the City of Cadiz has enforced anew the wearing of face masks in government offices as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose a significant threat to people’s health and safety.
Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. said he has observed that minimum public health protocols are no longer practiced and advised residents to still wear masks in public places, especially those with comorbidities who are vulnerable to contracting the virus.
“There is one in a national office who tested positive. A department head also turned out positive,” he told reporters in a telephone interview.
In October last year, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to issue an Executive Order allowing the voluntary wearing of face masks in indoor places with some exceptions.
A month before that, Mr. Marcos approved an EO for the voluntary wearing of face masks in outdoor settings, particularly in open spaces and non-crowded outdoor areas with good ventilation.
