Alert Levels Now Cover Entire Phl; DOH Discourages Christmas Parties
Despite the decline in new COVID-19 cases, the Department of Health urged the public to maintain “family bubbles” as much as possible during the Christmas season.
The COVID-19 alert level system will be implemented nationwide starting Nov. 22, Malacañang announced Saturday night, Nov. 20.
Acting presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles said the Interagency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases approved the fourth phase of the implementation of the alert levels system, placing the remaining parts of the country under alert levels.
Under Alert Level 2 from Nov. 22 to 30 are Benguet, Abra, Kalinga, Oriental Mindoro, Puerto Princesa, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, Occidental Mindoro, Butuan City, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Basilan, Cotabato City, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao.
Meanwhile, placed under Alert Level 3 are Apayao, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Dinagat Islands, and Sulu.
The government on Nov. 14 released the alert levels for the other parts of the country until the end of the month.
New Nationwide Alert Levels Out; NCR Still Under Alert Level 2 Until Nov. 30
‘Keep family bubble’
Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) still discourages the holding of Christmas parties this Yuletide season despite the decline in COVID-19 cases.
At a briefing on Saturday, Nov. 30, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the public, “as much as possible,” should maintain “our family bubble” in celebrating the holidays.
“We now have vaccines so we hope that we ensure that those who will attend family gatherings are vaccinated. The virus is still around so we cannot be complacent,” she pointed out.
Vergeire added gatherings are best held “outside and not in crowded or closed spaces.
“Let’s maintain the safety protocols and get vaccinated against COVID-19,” she underscored.
DOH director for Knowledge Management and Information Technology Service Eric Tayag said that as of Nov. 18, a total of 73,921,542 vaccine doses have been administered.
Of the figure, 40.9 million doses were given as first dose while 32.9 million doses were administered as second dose, Tayag said.
On the other hand, 6,400 doses were given as booster to health care workers while 144,880 doses were given to minors aged 12 to 17 years old.
“The target or the goal for this year is 54 million Filipinos will be fully vaccinated and over 17 million (in the) first quarter of 2022,” he said at a forum of the Philippine Medical Association.
Tayag added that some 1.15 million doses are being administered daily.
