TALISAY City in Cebu province and four other areas in the country have been placed under Alert Level 1, the lowest quarantine status so far in the Philippines.
Presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar said the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) approved on Monday, May 2, 2022, the deescalation from Alert Level 2 to 1 of the five areas as per recommendations of the sub-Technical Working Group for Data Analytics.
Under Alert Level 1 from May 3 to 15, 2022 are (in Luzon) Nueva Vizcaya in Cagayan Valley; (Visayas) Talisay City, Cebu in Central Visayas; (Mindanao): Misamis Occidental in Northern Mindanao, and Antipas, North Cotabato and Banga, South Cotabato in Soccsksargen.
Talisay City joined Cebu Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu cities in the list of areas under Alert Level 1. Also under Alert Level 1 in Central Visayas is Siquijor province, Amlan (Ayuquitan) town in Negros Oriental, and Duero town in Bohol.
Under Alert Level 1, all restrictions, including on travel, venue or transportation capacity, are removed. All businesses are also allowed to operate.
Under Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases Resolution 165, a local government unit can be considered under Alert Level 1 if it has a low bed utilization rate, inoculated 70 percent of its total population, and fully vaccinated the priority groups, including senior citizens.
“Talisay has complied with the required fully vaccinated eligible population and the senior citizens,” Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, chief pathologist of the Department of Health in Central Visayas said on Tuesday, May 3.
Based on its data on April 30, the Talisay City Government did not record any Covid-19 cases. Vaccination services, however, are ongoing at the Gaisano Laray, Lagtang Gym, Starmall and Talisay City College. Talisay Mayor Gerald Anthony Gullas Jr. urged residents to continue following health protocols like wearing masks and getting vaccinated against Covid-19. (LMY, ANV / TPT)