A new “alert level” will begin to be implemented against the COVID-19 external pandemic in the National Capital Region, which aims to put the economy back on track while only restricting many infections and overwhelming the health system.
This is after the government’s pandemic task force approved IATF Resolution 144-D, according to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Monday.
“Simula bukas, a-bente ng Oktubre, ay in-expand na po ang alert level systems sa labas ng Metro Manila,” said Roque in a media briefing.
“Magtatagal po ito hanggang katapusan, Oktubre a-trenta’y uno, 2021.”
Alert Level 4:
Negros Oriental
Davao Occidental
Alert Level 3:
Cavite
Laguna
Rizal
Siquijor
Davao City
Davao del Norte
Alert Level 2:
Batangas
Quezon Province
Lucena City
Bohol
Cebu City
Lapu-lapu City
Mandalue City
Cebu Province
Davao de Oro
Davao del Sur
Davao Oriental
No provinces, highly urbanized centers (HUCs), or independent component cities (ICCs) have yet been placed on the widest Alert Level 1 (maximum), which will only be downgraded to an area if 70% of A2 (senior citizens) and A3 (people with comorbidities) in the area will be vaccinated.
Alert levels vs. COVID-19 to be imposed in provinces
Outside of the areas mentioned above, routine “community quarantine” restrictions against COVID-19 still apply.
Metro Manila is currently on Alert Level 3 until October 31. As a result, the limited opening of more establishments here, such as cinemas, is allowed.
Despite this, the Department of Health (DOH) will still decide which portions of the areas as mentioned above can be placed under the most stringent “granular lockdowns” so as not to close entire provinces or cities.
Meanwhile, DOH has recorded 4,496 new coronavirus disease infections on Tuesday, October 19.
COVID-19 reproduction rate in Metro Manila has dropped to its lowest since May, OCTA Research said.
The rate is now at 0.55. The last time it was at this level was in May this year, or at 0.56, according to OCTA fellow Dr. Guido David.
Reproduction rate refers to the number of persons a COVID-19 positive individual can infect.
“We hope we can keep [this] below 0.6 the rest of the year,” David wrote on Twitter.
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