The threat of the new Omicron variant has been taken into account in the government's potential declaration of areas in the country under alert level 1--the most lenient classification under the Alert Level System (ALS) for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
This was bared by Cabinet Secretary and Acting Presidential Spokesperson Karlo Nograles in a virtual press conference Monday, Nov. 29.
"Sa ngayon po, fina-finalize pa rin po ng IATF yung mga parameters na gagamitin natin para makapagde-escalate or makapag-declare tayo ng localities under alert level 1 (Right mow, the IATF is finalizing the parameters that will be used in de-escalating or in declaring localities under alert level 1)," Nograles said.
"Syempre (Of course) we're also monitoring the developments with regard to Omicron and all these other developments worldwide. So I cannot really put a date kung kailan po namin mafa-finalize yung parameters (when we can finalize the parameters). It's an ongoing process pa po," added the official, who also doubles as IATF spokesperson.
The business sector had been hoping that Metro Manila would be de-escalated to from alert level 2 to alert level 1 by Dec. 1, 2021, or at the very least, by Jan. 1, 2022.
However, the emergence of the Omicron variant of COVID-19--originally called the South Africa variant---overseas has caused concern among local authorities.
This has led the IATF's announcement of precautionary measures designed to prevent the local entry of the variant, of which not much is known.
"Sa ngayon po, hindi pa namin naisa-pinal ang mga parameters na yan. So abangan na lang po natin muna (As of now, we have yet to finalize those parameters. So let's just wait for them)," Nograles said.
First piloted in Metro Manila or the National Capital Region (NCR) last October, the five-tier ALS has since been implemented accross the entire country.
The ALS is less restrictive compared to the old quarantine classification system, and allows for the targeted reopening of businesses and industries amid the ongoing pandemic.