NCR remains under Alert Level 1, several other LGUs ease alert status

The National Capital Region (NCR) remained under Alert Level 1, while several areas de-escalated their COVID-19 alert level status for July 16 to 31, 2022 according to the Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday.

In a statement, the DOH said based on the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), these areas were able to de-escalate by “maintaining their case classification and total beds utilization rates at low risk, and reaching or nearing the vaccination thresholds for target population and target A2 or senior citizens priority group.”

Apart from the NCR, the following areas are placed under Alert Level 1:

Luzon
Cordillera Administrative Region: Abra, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, and Baguio City

Region I: Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, and Dagupan City

Region II: Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and City of Santiago

Region III: Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Angeles City, and Olongapo City

Region IV-A: Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, and Lucena City

Region IV-B: Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, and Puerto Princesa City

Region V: Albay, Catanduanes, Naga City, and Sorsogon

Visayas:
Region VI: Aklan, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo Province, Bacolod City, and Iloilo City;

Region VII: Siquijor, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, and Mandaue City;

Region VIII: Biliran, Eastern Samar, Southern Leyte, Ormoc City, and Tacloban City

Mindanao
Region IX: Zamboanga City

Region X: Camiguin, Bukidnon, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Cagayan de Oro City, and Iligan City

Region XI: Davao City and Davao Oriental

Region XII: South Cotabato and General Santos City

CARAGA: Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur and Butuan City

BARMM: Cotabato City

Meanwhile, the following component cities and municipalities shall likewise be placed under Alert Level 1:

Luzon:
Cordillera Administrative Region: Sablan, Benguet;  Region IV-A: Alabat, Quezon; Region IV-B: Magsaysay and Paluan, Occidental Mindoro; and Region V: San Fernando, Masbate

Visayas: Region VI: Ilog, Negros Occidental; Region VII: Albuquerque, Bohol; and Region VIII: Motiong, Samar

Mindanao: Region IX: Guipos and San Miguel, Zamboanga del Sur; Region X: Kolambugan, Lanao Del Norte; Region XI: Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte and Santa Maria, Davao Occidental; CARAGA: Bacuag, Placer, and Tubod, Surigao del Norte; and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao: Bubong and Lumbatan, Lanao del Sur

Under Alert Level 1, intrazonal and interzonal travel shall be allowed without regard to age and comorbidities.

All establishments, persons, or activities, are allowed to operate, work, or be undertaken at full on-site or venue/seating capacity provided it is consistent with minimum public health standards.

Several provinces, highly urbanized cities, and independent component cities shall remain under Alert Level 2, without prejudice to their respective component cities and municipalities which may be under a different alert level classification:

Luzon: Cordillera Administrative Region: Benguet, Ifugao; Region IV-A: Quezon Province; Region IV-B: Occidental Mindoro and Palawan; and Region V: Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Masbate

Visayas: Region VI: Antique and Negros Occidental; Region VII: Bohol, Cebu, and Negros Oriental; and Region VIII: Leyte, Northern Samar and Western Samar

Mindanao: Region IX: City of Isabela, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga Sibugay; Region X: Lanao del Norte; Region XI: Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao de Oro and Davao Occidental; Region XII: North Cotabato, Sarangani, and Sultan Kudarat; CARAGA: Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte; and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao: Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi

Under Alert Level 2 — the second lowest in the 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. 

The DOH, citing the instructions of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and advice of health experts, said it is reviewing future directions for the COVID-19 Alert Level System.

The Health department said the President also requested for recommendations on the updated membership of the IATF-EID, to allow for swift science- and evidence-based decisions.

“Makakaasa po ang ating mga kababayan na mananatili ang gabay pangkalusugan ng kagawaran. Amin pong inaaral kung paano natin maipaparating ng mas maigi pa sa taumbayan kung ano ang kasalukuyang kalagayan ng COVID-19 para sila ay makaiwas dito,” DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said.

(Our fellow Filipinos can expect that the department's health advice will remain. We are studying how we can better inform the people about the current COVID-19 situation so that they can avoid it.)

The DOH on Tuesday logged 1,841 new COVID-19 cases, active cases also increased to 20,511 from 20,524 on Monday.

The new cases brought the nationwide tally to 3,737,222, according to the department’s latest figures.—LDF, GMA News