NCR, several areas to remain under COVID-19 Alert Level 1 from August 1-15

The National Capital Region and several other areas will remain under a COVID-19 Alert Level 1 from August 1 to 15, the Department of Health said on Saturday.

The DOH, sitting as chair of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), said the NCR and the following areas would be 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

The DOH, meanwhile, said the following areas in Visayas and Mindanao would be deescalated to Alert Level 1:

VISAYAS

• Region VI: Barbaza, Antique
• Region VIII: Bato and Tabontabon, Leyte.

MINDANAO

• Region IX: Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay;
• Region XI: Braulio E. Dujali, Davao Del Norte
• Region XII: Maitum, Sarangani
• CARAGA: Pilar, Surigao Del Norte
• Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao: Calanogas, Marogong and Tagoloan II, Lanao Del Sur.

Intrazonal and interzonal travel is allowed in areas under Alert Level 1, regardless of age and comorbidities.

Furthermore, 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.

Alert Level 2

The DOH said that several provinces, highly urbanized cities (HUCs), and independent component cities (ICCs) would remain under Alert Level 2, “without prejudice to their respective component cities and municipalities which may be under a different alert level classification.”

These areas were:

LUZON

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

VISAYAS

• Region VI: Antique and Negros Occidental
• Region VII: Bohol, Cebu, and Negros Oriental
• 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
• Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao: Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Under Alert Level 2, certain establishments and activities are allowed at 50% capacity indoors for fully vaccinated adults (and minors, even if unvaccinated), and 70% capacity outdoors.

DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire encouraged the public to comply with the minimum public health protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infections.

“Our continued compliance with the minimum public health standards - wearing the best fitting mask, Isolating when sick, doubling up protection through vaccines and boosters, and ensuring good airflow keeps us safe,” she said. — DVM, GMA News