Metro Manila Mayors To Discuss Possible Alert Level 1

The mayors of Metro Manila will be meeting this week to discuss their recommendation for the next alert level, an official said on Sunday, Feb. 20.

In a Viber exchange with The Philippine STAR, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) officer-in-charge Romando Artes said the local chief executives would be meeting tomorrow, Feb. 22.

They will be discussing a number of issues, among which is the possible recommendation for Alert Level 1 in the region.

“The mayors would be making the decision based on health care utilization, risk classification and the decline in the number of coronavirus disease cases,” Artes said in Filipino.

Metro Manila Council chairman and Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez also confirmed the meeting, saying they would be convening tomorrow.

The local chief executives earlier called for the extension of Alert Level 2 in the region until the end of February.

Alert level prerequisites

The government may set additional conditions before placing areas under the most lenient Alert Level 1 or the so-called “new normal,” Malacañang said, as COVID-19 case rates continue to decline.

Acting presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles said agencies are still completing the components of the National Action Plan Phase 5, which centers on the transition to the new normal and contains policies designed to achieve economic recovery. The first four phases sought to limit the spread of COVID-19 and to soften the impact of the pandemic.

“Maybe during the next IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) meeting, it (new normal roadmap) can be presented, including additional provisions, if any needed, or conditions needed for the Alert Level 1,” Nograles said at a press briefing last Friday, Feb. 18.

“It’s something that is still being discussed in the IATF because we still have time to determine the additional conditions, if any, for Alert Level 1 and we will also tackle the details for the National Action Plan Phase 5,” he added.

In order for an area to be placed under Alert Level 1, its case transmission should be low and decreasing and its total bed utilization rate and intensive care unit utilization rate should also be low.

Under Alert Level 1, intrazonal and interzonal travel will be permitted regardless of age and comorbidities. All businesses or activities may operate or be undertaken at full on-site or venue capacity, but establishments or event organizers should self-regulate or ensure that minimum public health standards like frequent handwashing, proper ventilation, and wearing of face masks are followed.

The Department of Health (DOH) previously admitted that Metro Manila was already qualified to be placed under Alert Level 1 but the government decided to retain its Alert Level 2 status until the end of February because it is still readying measures to ensure a safe reopening of the economy.

The National Action Plan Phase 5 contains a 10-point policy that seeks to build the confidence of individuals by reporting pandemic-related metrics; protecting individuals through vaccination and expanding the health system capacity; reducing risk due to policy uncertainty through predictable policies on mobility; resuming in-person classes, and risk-based travel restrictions; facilitating the shift to the new normal through digital transformation; and building resilience through the pandemic flexibility bill that will hasten government response and a medium-term preparation for pandemic resilience.

Cases down to 1,712

The DOH reported on Sunday that the daily tally of COVID-19 cases went down to 1,712, and new cases pushed to 3,652,203 the total number of confirmed cases nationwide.

The National Capital Region accounted for the biggest number of newly recorded cases with 316, followed by Calabarzon with 221, and Western Visayas with 180.

The figure excluded data from three laboratories, which contribute 0.7 percent of samples tested and 0.5 percent of positive individuals.

Of the total cases, DOH said 60,532 are active while 3,535,987 have already recuperated from the illness, including 3,686 newly recorded recoveries.

Additional 77 deaths brought to 55,684 the total number of COVID-related fatalities. Of the 77 deaths, 51 occurred in February.

In a radio interview on Sunday, infectious disease expert Dr. Rontgene Solante said a decrease in Omicron cases and an increase in booster shots could make the lifting of the mandatory face mask policy possible.

Solante said the face mask policy could be removed if the new variants of Omicron will no longer trigger surges in cases.

A higher number of people getting booster shots, Solante said, could lead to a decline in Omicron cases.

The DOH is expecting daily COVID cases to drop to as low as 83 by mid-March if more people will get vaccinated and strictly comply with minimum health protocols. – With Alexis Romero, Mayen Jaymalin