The Department of Health (DOH) said that Metro Manila could be under Alert Level 1 if coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases continue to decrease.

DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said it is important that the risk classification of Metro Manila will remain under the "low-risk" category.

“Iyong alert level metrics natin para sa Alert Level 1, kailangan pong maobserbahan ho nating maigi kasi kailangan iyong low-risk ng National Capital Region--- kailangan ma-sustain natin ito ng dalawang incubation period (The alert level metrics for Alert Level 1, we need to observe it carefully. The National Capital Region should be maintained under low-risk --- we need to be able to sustain it for two incubation periods),” she said.

The Health official made the statement as some groups from the private sector expressed hope that the metropolis will be eased to the lowest alert level before Christmas.

The mobility of people and compliance to minimum public health standards will play a vital role in the further deescalation of alert level in Metro Manila. Currently, the area was placed under Alert Level 2 until Nov. 21.

“Always remember that mobility, adherence to minimum public health standards, and the response of local governments will matter a lot,” she said.

“Sa pagtaas ng mobility, we anticipate na baka bababa ang atin pong pagku-comply sa minimum public health standards, and that will cause an increase in the number of cases (With the increase in mobility, we anticipate that our compliance with the minimum public health standards may decrease, and that will cause an increase in the number of cases),” she added.

“So we remind everybody: Magtulung-tulong po tayo para masustina po natin itong low risk o mababang mga kaso (Let's work together to sustain the low risk classification or low number of cases) so that we can eventually be deescalated to Alert Level 1,” she furthered.