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Gradual shift to AL 1,favored
By Nidz Godino
“If we shift to Alert Level 1, which Sec. Mon wants to happen, it should be done slowly because virus is still there…so, we still need to follow all the health protocols,” Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Ruth Castelo said DTI backed calls to downgrade quarantine status of the country to Alert Level 1 to open more businesses and jobs amid decreasing number of new COVID-19 infections.
Castelo said should country shifts to Alert Level 1, which is the lowest in the alert level system, it has to be done slowly as there is still lingering threat of COVID-19.
Currently, the National Capital Region (NCR) and several provinces are under Alert Level 2 from February 1 to 15.
Under Alert Level 2, certain establishments and activities are allowed at 50% capacity indoors for fully vaccinated adults and minors, and 70% capacity outdoors, even if unvaccinated.
Under Alert Level 1, all establishments, persons, or activities, are allowed to operate, work, or be undertaken at full on-site or venue,seating capacity provided it follows minimum health standards. This, however, excludes areas under granular lockdown.
Castelo said about 1.5 million businesses in the country can operate at full capacity if quarantine restrictions are further eased, thus allowing more people to return to work.
“If the businesses are at 100% or at full capacity, all employees working before the pandemic could go back to work now,” she said.
When several areas in the country, including NCR, moved from Alert Level 3 to Alert Level 2, the DTI estimated that around 100,000 to 200,000 employees got back to work. That is an addition of almost 16,000 workers weekly, Castelo said.
Castelo also emphasized regardless of alert status, it is still vital for establishments to present Safety Seal certification to prove that they are compliant with minimum public health standards set by the government, and that they integrate the staysafe.ph contact tracing app.
“It is very important that they have Safety Seal because this is our assurance as consumers or as customers that the establishments we visit follow health protocols,” she said.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said NCR mayors may recommend to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) downgrading of the alert status in the region if COVID-19 cases continue to decrease.
Vaccine expert panel member Dr. Rontgene Solante said premature to put Metro Manila under Alert Level 1 after February 15, as rate of transmission remained high despite decreasing number of new cases daily.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire also said government would check “safe spaces” and hospital situations to determine if NCR can be shifted to Alert Level 1.
The Philippines reported 3,574 additional cases of COVID-19, bringing the total tally to 3,619,633.
The new infections brought the active cases to 105,550, the lowest since January 8.
Caloocan, Pateros, Navotas, Taguig, and Marikina are now classified as low risk for COVID-19 due to improved data, independent monitoring group OCTA.
In a tweet, OCTA fellow Dr. Guido David said average daily attack rate (ADAR) in these areas decreased to less than 10 and their positivity rate all went down to 9.6%.
The ADAR in Marikina is at 9.20, Taguig has 8.71, Navotas has 7.76, Pateros has 7.23, and Caloocan has 4.07. They are all in the moderate category, based on the indicators of the Covidactnow.
ADAR pertains to the incidence showing average number of new cases in a period per 100,000 people.
These five areas’ positivity rate of 9.6% is, however, still higher than standard of World Health Organization of less than 5% positivity rate. If the rate is 5% or higher, it means there is a high transmission rate of the virus.
Their reproduction numbers and healthcare utilization rate (HCUR) are in the “very low” category, OCTA said.
Navotas recorded a 0.41 reproduction rate, while Pateros has 0.18. Caloocan, Taguig, and Marikina all have 0.28.
Reproduction rate refers to the number of people infected by one case. A reproduction number that is below 1 indicates that the transmission of the virus is slowing down.
HCUR in Caloocan is at 20%, Marikina at 17%, Taguig at 15%, Pateros at 6%, and Navotas at 0%.
“This resulted in an overall classification of low risk,” David said.
David also said NCR and remaining areas in it are still under moderate risk for COVID-19.
The ADAR in NCR is at 8.93, while its positivity rate is also at 9.6%. Its reproduction rate is also “very low” with 0.30, and its HCUR is “low” with 32% recorded.
“The NCR remained under moderate risk but is very close to moving down to low risk…several other LGUs in the NCR are under moderate risk but are close to being classified as low risk,” David said.
Amid improved COVID-19 trend, he asked public to continue observing minimum public health standards.
The Philippines has dropped to moderate risk classification for COVID-19 from a high risk classification, DOH said last week
Metro Manila mayors may recommend to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) downgrading of the alert status in the region if COVID-19 cases continue to decrease, MMDA said.
At the Laging Handa briefing, MMDA officer-in-charge and general manager Romando Artes said this recommendation may be possible “soon” once the NCR reaches the threshold for Alert Level 1 which is the lowest in the new alert level system.
The IATF earlier noted that Alert Level 1 is for areas with low COVID-19 case transmission, bed utilization rate, and intensive care unit utilization rate.
“Here in Metro Manila, we have only recorded 1,271 new COVID-19 cases lately…this is continuously decreasing and we are expecting that before the month ends, the cases in NCR will be down to 1,000 per day” he said.
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