The country will likely remain under COVID-19 Alert Level 1 until President Rodrigo Duterte’s term ends on June 30, 2022, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said on Thursday.
In a briefing, Duque said the government is focused on helping areas under Alert Level 2 to slide down to Alert Level1 by ramping up vaccination, particularly among the elderly.
Duque had previously talked about going down to Alert Level 0, a status that Metro Manila mayors said they were ready to implement, but his statements Thursday deemphasized the possibility.
He also said the country’s alert level would still depend on possible mutations of the coronavirus and hospital occupancy.
Although new daily cases have fallen below 1,000, Duque said this was not the time to lift the mandatory use of face masks.
“Let us be prudent and let us be guided by data and science through our expert panel. Be patient as we’re still studying that. The time will come when it is already okay not to wear a face mask. But for now, it’s too premature,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.
So far, only 48 areas in the country, including the National Capital Region (NCR), are under Alert Level 1.
Meanwhile, the chief implementer of the National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., said the government has administered 1.4 million vaccine doses so far in the fourth phase of the “Bayanihan, Bakunahan” national vaccination drive.
The regions that administered the most number of vaccine doses during this initiative were Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Central Visayas and the Ilocos Region.
The Bayanihan, Bakunahan 4 was initially held from March 10 to 12 and was extended until Friday, March 18,with the aim of vaccinating 1.8 million more Filipinos against the viral disease.
Based on the NTF’s report on Wednesday, a total of 64,838,213 Filipinos are now fully vaccinated, while 11,291,687 individuals have received booster shots or additional doses.
The government aims to fully vaccinate 90 million people by the time Duterte leaves office.
The Supreme Court on Thursday announced that all courts in the NCR and those in areas under COVID-19 Alert Level 1 are fully operational with 100 percent of officials and employees reporting physically for work from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday until March 31.
In a circular, the Office of the Court Administrator also ordered the full operation of court offices in Manila, the Court of Appeals — in Manila, Cebu City and Cagayan de Oro City — Sandiganbayan, and Court of Tax Appeals.
Besides NCR, the other areas in Luzon under Alert Level 1 until March 31 are: Abra, Apayao, Baguio City, Kalinga, Dagupan City, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Batanes, Cagayan, City of Santiago, Isabela, Quirino, Angeles City, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Olongapo City,Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Lucena City, Marinduque, Puerto Princesa City, Romblon, Naga City and Catanduanes.
Ten areas in the Visayas under Alert Level 1 are Aklan, Bacolod City, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo City, Cebu City, Siquijor, Biliran, Ormoc City, and Tacloban City.
In Mindanao, under Alert Level 1 are Zamboanga City, Cagayan de Oro City, Camiguin, Davao City and Butuan City.
Trial courts in areas under Alert Level 1 are also allowed to operate night courts. Also, trial court judges may conduct jail visitations, and flag ceremonies are allowed.
Trial courts under Alert Level 2 are to operate with only a maximum of 80 percent of total personnel on-site. Night courts are not allowed to operate.