Año: IATF to discuss whether NCR is ready for Alert Level 1

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) will discuss on Monday the new quarantine status in the country until the end of February, and on whether the National Capital Region (NCR) is ready to shift to Alert Level 1, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said Sunday.

In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, Año said NCR's new alert level classification from February 16 to 28 will depend on the presentation of the Technical Working Group (TWG).

However, he expressed caution on the possibility of downgrading NCR's COVID-19 alert to level 1, citing  electoral campaign activities for the May polls.

“Sa mga susunod na araw, kailangan talaga tayong magbantay pa, dahil alam natin na papalapit nang papalapit ‘yan, paigting nang paigting ‘yung kanilang pangangampanya, lalo na kapag pumasok na ‘yung local election period,” he said.

(We really need to be more vigilant in the coming days because we know that as the elections get closer, poll campaign activities  will intensify, especially when the local election period starts.)

Currently, Metro Manila and several provinces are under Alert Level 2 from February 1 to 15.

Under Alert Level 2 – the second lowest in the new alert level system – certain establishments and activities are allowed at 50% capacity indoors for fully vaccinated adults and minors, even if unvaccinated, and 70% capacity outdoors.

Meanwhile, under Alert Level 1, except for those located in areas under granular lockdowns, all establishments, persons, or activities, are also allowed to operate, work, or be undertaken at full on-site or venue/seating capacity provided it follows minimum health standards.

“‘Pag sinabi nating Alert Level 1, minimum public health standards na lang maiiwan diyan tapos lahat pwede na, 100% na halos lahat ng activities, baka mabilaukan tayo rito,” Año said.

(When we say Alert Level 1, only minimum public health standards will remain and then almost 100% of all activities will be allowed. We might get choked.)

He also said that if the government rushes to shift into Alert Level 1, the healthcare utilization in NCR may get overwhelmed anew.

All regions in the country, including the NCR, are now at low to moderate risk for COVID-19 aside from Region XII, the Department of Health (DOH) announced on Friday.

Low risk means the average daily attack rate (ADAR) in an area is less than 1 per 100,000 population while moderate risk means it is between 1 to 7.

“Ang tinatawag na Average Daily Attack Rate ng Metro Manila ay nasa 10.8. Ang sinasabi natin na para maging safe is at least 7 and below. Ayan ang mga ating dapat nababantayan bago tayo pumunta sa Alert Level 1,” the DILG chief said.

(The ADAR in Metro Manila is 10.8. For it to be safe, the ADAR needs to be 7 and below. We should monitor that first before we shift to Alert Level 1.)

“Phase by phase based on science. Naiintindihan natin ‘yung sinasabi ng mga economic sector na gustong makabawi kaagad sa ekonomiya pero syempre gusto din naman nating lahat ‘yan pero hinay hinay lang para naman hindi tayo magsisisi,” he added.

(We understand what the economic sectors are saying that they want to recover immediately, and of course we want that too, but it has to be slow so that we won’t regret it in the end.)

The Philippines on Saturday recorded 3,792 new COVID-19 infections, pushing the nationwide tally to 3,634,368. —LBG, GMA News