Alert Level 1 Stays In Metro Manila, Other Areas; No Deltacron Detected In Phl

Exactly two years after Metro Manila was placed on lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Malacañang announced that the capital region would remain under the most lenient alert level until the end of the month, a status it will share with 47 other areas.

The decision of the government’s pandemic task force to place Metro Manila and 47 other areas under Alert Level 1 would take effect today, March 16, acting presidential spokesman Martin Andanar said on Tuesday, March 15.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año was quoted in a report as saying that the country should remain under Alert Level 1 instead of the so-called Alert Level 0 to prevent a possible spike in COVID-19 cases, like what happened in other countries that dropped all restrictions.

Aside from Metro Manila, other areas in Luzon that will be under Alert Level 1 are Abra, Apayao, Baguio City and Kalinga in the Cordillera Administrative Region; Dagupan City, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan in Ilocos; Batanes, Cagayan, City of Santiago, Isabela and Quirino in Cagayan Valley; Angeles City, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Olongapo City, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales in Central Luzon; Batangas, Cavite, Laguna and Lucena City in Calabarzon; Marinduque, Puerto Princesa City and Romblon in Palawan; and Naga City and Catanduanes in the Bicol region.

Areas in the Visayas that will be under the most relaxed quarantine status until March 31 are Aklan, Bacolod City, Capiz, Guimaras and Iloilo City in Western Visayas; Cebu City and Siquijor in Central Visayas; and Biliran, Ormoc City and Tacloban City in Eastern Visayas.

The Mindanao areas that will be under Alert Level 1 are Zamboanga City in the Zamboanga Peninsula; Cagayan de Oro City and Camiguin in Northern Mindanao; Davao City in the Davao region; and Butuan City in the CARAGA region.

Under Alert Level 1, business and social gathering venues may be filled up to their capacities but minimum health protocols like frequent handwashing, proper ventilation and wearing of face masks should still be observed.

Other areas in the Philippines will be under Alert Level 2 from March 16 to 31. Under the alert status, business establishments and activities are allowed up to 50 percent indoor capacity and 70 percent for outdoor venues.

Last week, the health department reported that the entire country is now classified as minimal risk because of vaccination efforts and natural immunity.

Not yet detected

The Department of Health (DOH) assured the public on Tuesday that it has not yet detected the “Deltacron” or any new variant that could trigger a surge in COVID cases.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the DOH has not recorded any uptick in COVID nationwide even after easing restrictions.

According to Vergeire, COVID cases in the country is still on a downtrend, with the national seven-day moving average at 559 and 162 for the National Capital Region (NCR).

Ready for Alert 0

Considering the high vaccination rate in the region, Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje on Tuesday expressed the belief that NCR is ready for the shift to Alert Level 0.

Based on DOH data, Cabotaje said the current rate of fully vaccinated individuals in NCR is 103 percent but booster shots are still low at 29.7 percent.

The government will also lessen the COVID response when more areas de-escalate and shift to Alert Level 0, Vergeire said on Tuesday.

“If we reach that point (Alert level 0), in that kind of scenario, we will be lessening required response, especially in terms of the logistics. There is no more need to dedicate beds in hospitals. Non-COVID services will return. COVID-19 conditions will be integrated in the infectious disease units of hospitals,” Vergeire explained.

“Of course for quarantine facilities, the system must change so resources can be better focused on other pressing needs. Testing may also be shifted. RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) will only be required for clinical management. Meaning, for the elderly, comorbidities and HCWs for surveillance purposes. Other than that, it’s not recommended anymore. What should be recommended would be another form of test to detect in communities. Not RT-PCRs,” she added. – With Mayen Jaymalin