The Department of Health on Sunday clarified the 26 provinces and cities under COVID-19 Alert Level 2 were not escalated from Alert Level 1.
Instead, the DOH noted these areas have maintained their Alert Level 2 status since June 2022.
Furthermore, the Health department stressed that no province or city has been escalated to Alert Level 2 from Alert Level 1 since January 2023.
While the Alert Level 2 areas have reached low risk classifications for cases and utilization rates, the DOH said these have vaccination rates lower than 70 percent of the target total and population and/or 70% of the total A2 population (senior citizens).
“Meeting these targets will allow these areas to be de-escalated to Alert Level 1,” the DOH said.
It pointed out that the Alert Level System (ALS) continues to provide guidance for every Filipino, so that each may equip themselves with better layers of protection against COVID-19.
The DOH continues to encourage those that are still unvaccinated, unboosted, or under-boosted to get the vaccines as soon as possible while it is still free of charge, especially for senior citizens.
The Health department assured it is continuously working with the local government units of the identified provinces and cities to increase their COVID-19 vaccination coverage.
“Moreover, the DOH continues to monitor our health system capacity toensure that Filipinos can continuously avail of healthcare services,” it said. “Although some hospitals have reported some increases in admission, no hospital has reported full capacity.”
Meanwhile, the DOH reminds the public that as the country continues to reopen the economy, “we need to ensure that we are healthy.”
“This is not the time to get sick. We have seen reports that some hospitals have increasing admissions for other diseases (e.g. heart diseases) and these diseases account for admissions during pre-pandemic time,” it said.
Also, the department said the ongoing El Niño heat may trigger worsening symptoms of other diseases.
The DOH encourages everyone to keep safe and healthy.
“Get vaccinated and boosted. Protect yourself and your family,” it added.
Alert Level 2 remains over Cebu province, Benguet and 24 other provinces until the end of April.
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), however, did not cite case counts to explain the higher alert level.
Alert Level 2 will prevail until April 30 in Benguet; Ifugao; Quezon Province; Palawan; Camarines Norte; Masbate; Antique; NegrosOccidental; Bohol; Cebu Province; Negros Oriental; Leyte; Western Samar; Lanao del Norte; Davao de Oro; Davao del Norte; Davao del Sur;Davao Occidental; North Cotabato; Sarangani; Sultan Kudarat; Dinagat Islands; Basilan; Maguindanao; Sulu; and Tawi-Tawi, the IATF said.
Under Alert Level 2, certain establishments and activities are allowed to operate at 50 percent capacity indoors for fully vaccinated adults (and minors, even if unvaccinated), and 70 percent capacity outdoors.
Metro Manila, the Cordillera Administrative Region, Region I, RegionII, Region III, and Region IVA and IV-B, Region VII, VIII, IX, X, XI,XII, Caraga and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao remain at Alert Level 1, the lowest in the alert level system.
No restrictions are set on establishments and places of work as long as conditions are consistent with minimum public health standards.
The IATF resolution was approved April 14 and signed by Department of Health Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire and Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr., chairperson and vice chairperson of the IATF, respectively. With Darwin Amojelar
The Department of Transportation, meanwhile, said the use of face masks would be mandatory in all trains of the Light Rail Transit (LRT), Metro Rail Transit (MRT), and Philippine National Railways (PNR) as a preventive measure.
DOTr Assistant Secretary for Railways Jorjette B. Aquino said face masks are also mandatory inside LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3 stations. However, the policy becomes optional at PNR stations as these were open-air spaces.
“Our medical professionals in the railways sector stressed that the risk of COVID-19 transmission remains present in our trains as they are enclosed spaces,” Aquino said.
“Security personnel deployed in all of our stations and trains will help ensure that the policy is strictly enforced.”
While millions of Filipinos have received their COVID-19 vaccine, Aquino urged the riding public to remain vigilant and encouraged them to protect their fellow commuters by wearing masks.
“Even if you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you can still become infected and potentially spread the virus to others,” he said.
Aquino also encouraged the riding public to get their second booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The Department of Health (DOH) recently issued new guidelines on the administration of the second booster shot to the general adult population through local government units.
“These booster shots are designed to help maintain the level of protection against the virus, especially as new variants emerge,” Aquino said. – With Darwin Amojelar