THE Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) has placed 26 areas in the country under Alert Level 2 until the end of April.
In its Resolution 6-C approved on April 14, 2023, the IATF said the following provinces will be under Alert Level 2 until April 30:
* Benguet (except Baguias, Sablan and Tublay)
* Ifugao (except Alfonso Lista, Kiangan, Lagawe Capital and Lamut)
* Quezon Province (except Alabat, Atimonan, Candelaria, City of Tayabas, Dolores, Gumaca, Lucban, Mauban, Padre Burgos, Pagbilao, Perez, Plaridel, Polilio, Quezon, Sampaloc, San Antonio, Sariaya, Tiaong and Unisan)
*Palawan (except Cagayancillo, Culion, El Nido Bacuit and Kalayaan)
* Camarines Norte (except Basud, Capalonga, Daet Capital, San Vicente and Talisay)
* Masbate (except Balud Batuan, City of Masbate, Mandaon, Milagros and San Fernando)
* Antique (except Anini-y, Barbaza, San Jose Capital, Sebaste and Tobias Fornier Dao)
* Negros Occidental (except Cadiz City, Candoni; Cities of Himamaylan, Talisay, Victorias, La Carlota, Sagay and Silay; Valladolid, Enrique B. Magalona Saravia, Ilog, Murcia, Pontevedra, Pulupandan and San Enrique)
* Bohol (Alburquerque, Balilihan, Batuan, Calape, Corella, Dimiao, Duero, Garcia Hernandez, Jagna, Lila, Loay, Loboc, Marobojoc, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia Pittogo, San Isidro, San Miguel, Sevilla, Sikatuna and Tagbilaran City)
* Cebu Province (except Alcoy, Borbon, Cities of Naga and Talisay, Oslob, Pilar, Poro, Santander and Tudela)
* Negros Oriental (except Amlan, Bacong, Dauin, Dumaguete City, Valencia and Zamboanguita)
* Leyte (except Abuyog, Albuera, Bato, Barugo, Baybay City, Dulag, Hindang, Inopacan, Javier, La Paz, Leyte, Matag-ob, Matalom, Palo, Pastrana, Tabontabon, Tunga and Villaba)
* Western Samar (except City of Catbalogan, Marabut, Motiong, Pagsanghan, Paranas, San Sebastian, Talalora, Tarangnan and Zumarraga)
* Lanao Del Norte (except Bacolod, Baroy, Kauswagan, Kolambugan, Lala, Linamon and Tubod)
* Davao De Oro (except Mawab, Motevista, Nabunturan and New Bataan)
* Davao Del Norte (except Braulio E. Dujali, Island Garden City of Samal and Santo Tomas)
* Davao Del Sur (except Padada)
* Davao Occidental (except Don Marcelino, Malita and Santa Maria)
* North Cotabato (except Antipas, Arakan, City of Kidapawan, Kabacan and President Roxas)
* Sarangani (except Maitum)
* Sultan Kudarat (except Bagumbayan, City of Tacurong, Kalamansig, Lebak and President Quirino)
* Dinagat Islands (except Cagdianao, Dinagat, Libjo, Loreto and Tubajon)
* Basilan
* Maguindanao (except South Upi and Upi)
* Sulu (except Hadji Panglima Tahil Marunggas)
* Tawi-Tawi (except Turtle Islands)
Areas in exception were under Alert Level 1 along with the other areas across the country.
In a statement, the Department of Health (DOH), the task force’s lead agency, said the areas placed under Alert Level 2 “were not escalated from Alert Level 1; rather, these have maintained their Alert Level 2 status since June 2022.”
It said no area in the country was escalated in terms of alert level status since January 2023.
The agency also said the Alert Level 2 status also does not mean that Covid-19 cases are on the rise in these areas.
“While these areas have reached low risk classifications for cases and utilization rates, these have vaccination rates lower than 70 percent of the target total and population and/or 70 percent of the total A2 population (senior citizens). Meeting these targets will allow these areas to be de-escalated to Alert Level 1,” the DOH said.
“The DOH is continuously working with the local government units of the identified provinces and cities to increase their Covid-19 vaccination coverage. The DOH continues to monitor our health system capacity to ensure that Filipinos can continuously avail of healthcare services. While some hospitals have reported some increases in admission, no hospital has reported full capacity,” it added.
The health department urged the unvaccinated to get their jabs as their protection against the virus.
The DOH said under Alert Level 2, some establishments or activities, “shall be allowed to operate, or be undertaken at a maximum of 50 percent indoor venue capacity for fully vaccinated individuals and those below 18 years of age, even if unvaccinated, and 70 percent outdoor venue capacity.” (SunStar Philippines)