Metro Manila Under Alert Level 1 By March

Nearly two years after being placed under a hard lockdown, Metro Manila will be under the most lenient pandemic alert classification starting tomorrow, March 1, as COVID-19 infections continue to decline and the hospital bed utilization rate remains low.

Acting presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles confirmed on Sunday, Feb. 27, that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) is placing the National Capital Region (NCR) and 38 other areas under Alert Level 1 from March 1 to 15.

Other areas in Luzon to be under Alert Level 1 or the so-called new normal are Abra, Apayao, Baguio City and Kalinga in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR); Dagupan City, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan in Region 1 (Ilocos); Batanes, Cagayan, City of Santiago, Isabela and Quirino in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley); Angeles City, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Olongapo City, Pampanga and Tarlac in Region 3 (Central Luzon); Cavite and Laguna in Region 4-A (Calabarzon); Marinduque, Puerto Princesa City and Romblon in Region 4-B (Mimaropa), and Naga City and Catanduanes in Region 5 (Bicol).

In the Visayas, Alert Level 1 will be raised in Aklan, Bacolod City, Capiz and Guimaras in Region 6 (Western Visayas); Siquijor in Region 7 (Central Visayas) and Biliran in Region 8 (Eastern Visayas).

The same will apply for areas in Mindanao such as Zamboanga City in Region 9 (Zamboanga peninsula); Cagayan de Oro City and Camiguin in Region 10 (Northern Mindanao), and Davao City in Region 11 (Davao).

Under Alert Level 1, intrazonal and interzonal travel will be permitted regardless of age and comorbidities or health risks.

Also, all establishments or activities may operate or be undertaken at full on-site or venue capacity provided that minimum public health standards like proper ventilation, frequent handwashing, and wearing of face masks are observed.

The IATF decision was based on COVD-19 indicators that reflected improvement in the pandemic situation. Officials have credited vaccination for the low percentage of critical and severe cases that kept hospitalization rates manageable despite a surge in COVID-19 infections caused by the Omicron variant.

Amended guidelines for Alert Level 1

Nograles, also co-chair and spokesman for the IATF, said the task force had approved amendments to the guidelines for Alert Level 1 areas.

Under the amended guidelines, “well-fitted face masks should be worn properly at all times, whether outdoors or in indoor private or public establishments, including in public transportation, except when eating and drinking, participating in team and individual sports in venues where ventilation standards can be maintained, and in outdoor sports and exercises where physical distance can be maintained.”

While all private offices and workplaces may operate at full capacity, managers may continue to provide flexible and alternative work arrangements as deemed appropriate based on function or individual risk.

Agencies and instrumentalities of the government will also adhere to 100 percent on-site workforce. Off-site work will be subject to relevant rules and regulations issued by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the Office of the President.

Other Alert Level 1 guidelines approved by the pandemic task force are the following:

- Public transportation will be at full seating capacity. For intrazonal and interzonal travels involving public land transportation between an area with a higher alert level classification and an area under Alert Level 1, the passenger capacity will be that which has the lower passenger capacity rate between the point of origin and point of destination.

- For aviation, maritime and rail public transport operating in and out of Alert Levels 1 areas, the passenger capacity will be at 100 percent. The use of acrylic or plastic dividers in public transportation shall not be required. The use of the Safe, Swift and Smart Passage travel management system will not be required for interzonal travel to areas under Alert Level 1.

- The use of health declaration forms or paper-based contact tracing will not be required for all agencies and establishments; use of digital contact tracing such as the StaySafe.PH application will be optional.

- Testing protocols will be implemented, consistent with national guidelines, for individuals who are unvaccinated or have higher exposure risk. Testing using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction or RT-PCR shall be recommended and prioritized for senior citizens, persons with comorbidities, and health care workers. Testing shall be optional for other groups

- Testing will not be recommended for asymptomatic close contacts unless symptoms develop. Symptom monitoring is recommended instead. Should testing still be used, this should be done at least five days from the day of last exposure. Testing will also not be recommended for screening asymptomatic individuals.

- Testing using antigen tests will be recommended only for symptomatic individuals and in instances wherein RT-PCR is not available. The Hospital Infection Prevention and Control Committees may implement testing protocols in health facilities for health workers and patients based on their assessment of risk and benefit.

- Updated quarantine protocols for incoming international travelers will be implemented.

- Establishments are no longer required to set up isolation facilities within the workplace.

- Close contacts, asymptomatic confirmed cases and mild to moderate confirmed cases shall be managed at the primary care level, such as health centers, private clinics through face-to-face or teleconsultation, while confirmed cases with severe and critical symptoms shall be managed in the appropriate health care facility.

- With regard to reintegration, isolation can be discontinued upon completion of the recommended isolation period, provided that they do not have fever for at least 24 hours without the use of any antipyretic medications, and showed improvements of respiratory signs and symptoms.

- For the claiming of sick leave, health benefits or other relevant processes wherein the proofs of COVID-19 management are necessary, a medical certification may suffice but should include the name of patient, severity of symptoms, diagnosis as probable or confirmed COVID-19, and date of end of quarantine or isolation period.

- Individuals 18 years old and above will be required to present proof of full vaccination before participating in mass gatherings or entry into indoor establishments like in-person religious gatherings; gatherings for necrological services, wakes, inurnment and funerals, indoor dine-in services of food preparation establishments, personal care establishments such as barbershops, hair spas, hair salons, and nail spas, fitness studios, gyms and venues for exercise and sports; indoor cinemas or movie houses; meetings, conferences and permitted venues for social events like parties, wedding receptions, family reunions; and venues with live voice or wind-instrument performers and audiences; indoor ancillary establishments in hotels and other accommodation establishments, and venues for election-related events.

- Proof of full vaccination shall be required before entry in 3Cs (closed, crowded, close contact) establishments. Minors shall not be required to present proof of vaccination status.

Alert Level 2 areas

Nograles said several areas would be under Alert Level 2 from March 1 to 15.

Business establishments and activities in Alert Level 2 areas are allowed up to 50 percent indoor capacity and 70 percent for outdoor venues. Intrazonal and interzonal movement are allowed but local governments may impose “reasonable” movement restrictions.

Luzon areas that will be under the second most relaxed status are Benguet, Ifugao and Mountain Province in CAR; Nueva Vizcaya in Region 2; Nueva Ecija and Zambales in Region 3; Batangas, Lucena City, Quezon province and Rizal in Region 4-A; Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro and Palawan in Region 4-B; and Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Masbate and Sorsogon in Region 5.

To be under Alert Level 2 status in the Visayas are Antique, Iloilo City, Iloilo province and Negros Occidental in Region 6; Bohol, Cebu province, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City and Negros Oriental in Region 7; Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Ormoc City, Southern Leyte, Tacloban City and Western Samar in Region 8.

The same would apply for the following areas in Mindanao: the City of Isabela, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga Sibugay in Zamboanga Sibugay in Regio 9; Bukidnon, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental in Region 10; Davao de Oro, Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental and Davao Occidental in Region 11; and

General Santos City, North Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat in Region 12 (Soccsksargen); Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Butuan City and Dinagat Islands in Region 13 (Caraga); and Basilan, Maguindanao, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Cotabato City and Lanao del Sur in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said the “ad referendum” crafted by the IATF for alert level status changes was ready “for tomorrow (Monday) for the President’s approval” and expressed hope of returning to the “old normal.”

“Maybe, later on, the (next step) is ‘Alert Zero,’ which is the (return) to the pre-COVID situation – the situation before January, 2020 in which only those in the hospitals are wearing face masks,” Año said.

“This is what we call (the period) of no restrictions. But we are still far from that because this pandemic has yet to end. We have not reached an endemic status. So this Alert Level 1 is the new normal,” he added.

Asked whether the country would see Alert Level 0 implemented once the target of 90 million fully vaccinated Filipinos is achieved, Año said the government’s decision would be hinged on the situation outside the country.

He said the government needs to be cautious in returning the country to its pre-COVID status, citing other countries in which spikes reoccurred when they did. – With NeilJayson Servallos, Artemio Dumlao