Metro Manila does not yet need to be raised to Alert Level 4, Malacañang said Monday in the face of the continuing crackdown on COVID-19 cases in the region.
According to acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles, the National Capital Region (NCR) has not yet met the standards of the Inter-Agency Task Force for Alert Level 4 because the hospitalization rate in the region has not yet reached high or critical risk.
“As of the moment, ang Metro Manila nasa moderate pa tayo sa total bed utilization natin. So it is not enough for us to declare Alert Level 4,” said Nograles.
“But immediately kung tumama po ‘yan, we will not hesitate to declare Level 4, in any area or escalate any area to Alert Level 3,” he added.
According to Nograles, the high vaccination rate in NCR is the possible reason why the hospitalization rate in the region is not so high.
But according to the Department of Health, based on the number of those infected and admitted to the hospital, the hospitalization rate may also increase in the coming days.
Apart from the number of vacant hospital beds, it is also necessary to consider the number of remaining health workers in the hospital, especially since many are already ill.
Alert Level 4 not yet raised in Metro Manila: Malacañang
According to Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Benhur Abalos, Metro Manila mayors have agreed to keep the region at Alert Level 3 for now.
“We will continuously monitor specifically the [health care utilization rate], kung ano ang mangyayari dito. At kung kinakailangang dalhin sa Alert Level 4, at any time ‘papasok po namin but for the meantime the mayors see no need to escalate to Alert Level 4,” said Abalos.
Alert Level 3 will only last until January 15 in Metro Manila.
Abalos also warned against those who spread false news.
For Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion, Alert Level 3 in Metro Manila is enough for now.
According to Concepcion, very few are coming out due to fears of omicron.
He also said that it is common for businesses to slow down after Christmas.
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