DEPARTMENT of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said Thursday, October 28, that he is expecting the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to further ease the quarantine measures in the National Capital Region (NCR).
Malaya said his basis is the continuous decline of Covid-19 cases in Metro Manila.
“I would expect maybe in the next month, because next week is already November...If this trend continues, we can really look forward to a lowering of the alert level very soon,” he said.
Malaya said the IATF will meet Thursday afternoon to discuss the alert level and other quarantine protocols nationwide.
Metro Manila is under alert level 3, which allows establishments to operate at 30 percent indoor venue capacity for fully vaccinated individuals, and 50 percent outdoor venue capacity regardless of vaccination status, provided that all employees are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 from October 16 to 31.
Under alert level 2, establishments will be allowed to operate indoors at 50 percent capacity with additional 10 percent capacity if they have a Safety Seal, and 70 percent capacity for outdoors.
Malaya said the IATF is already considering allowing minors inside malls provided they are accompanied by an adult.
On October 25, the Department of Health (DOH) said the Philippines is already at low risk for Covid-19, noting the country’s two-week growth rate decreased to -48 percent, while the average daily attack rate (Adar) dipped by more than half or 5.89 for every 100,000 as compared to the 11.41 in the previous week.
The national health system capacity was at moderate risk with 41.15 percent bed utilization rate, 37.65 percent mechanical ventilation utilization rate, while the intensive care unit utilization was at 53.15 percent.
NCR’s Adar, however, remains at high risk but it is “slowly” decreasing.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) said that as of Wednesday, October 27, 74 areas in 53 villages in Metro Manila remain under granular lockdown.
Granular lockdowns are being imposed in areas that were classified as "critical zones" by the local government units to prevent the further spread of the virus.
Meanwhile, should Metro Manila shift to alert level 2, PNP Chief Guillermo Eleazar assured that the police will not be complacent and will continue to strictly enforce minimum public health standards and safety protocols.
He said there will be a sufficient number of police on the streets for the maintenance of peace and order, as well as the health protocols.
“Subalit ang pinakamahalaga pa rin ay ang pakikiisa ng ating mga kababayan sa pamamagitan ng pagsunod sa minimum public health safety protocol at ang pagiging mapagmatyag at tapang na paalahahanan hindi lamang ang mga lumalabag kung hindi pati na rin ang mga ahensya na nagpapatupad ng mga alituntuning ito, kabilang ang inyong PNP,” said Eleazar.
“Walang pakialam ang coronavirus sa mga alert level na ito kaya tayong mga biktima na lang ang mag-adjust sa pamamagitan ng tamang pagsunod ng mga patakaran sa kaligtasan at kami naman sa PNP ay laging tutulong upang ipaalala ito sa ating mga kababayanm,” he added. (SunStar Philippines)