The entire Philippines is now classified as "high-risk" for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) based on the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases's (IATF) own metrics.
"While we welcome the new year with optimism, the reality on the ground is that the country is now at high-risk classification due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases," Cabinet Secretary and Acting Presidential Spokesperson Karlo Nograles said in a virtual press conference Wednesday, Jan. 5.
Nograles, who also serves as IATF spokesperson, said the final week of December saw a surge in new COVID-19 infections.
"Based on our metrics and our parameters, any territory na mag-eexperience ng (that experiences) greater than 200 percent two-week growth rate ay ilalagay po natin sa (2ill be placed under) high-risk classification," he said.
"And unfortunately for the entire country, although most of it is makikita natin sa (were seen in) NCR-plus areas, tumama na po tayo to (we've already reached) more than 200 percent. In fact by the account of Secretary Duque in the 'Talk to the People' kagabi (last night), sinabi po niya (he said that) we are (at) 448 percent po ang ating (in terms of our) two-week growth rate," Nograles explained.
While the general status of the country in terms of the Alert Level System (ALS) for COVID-19 response is the rather lenient alert level 2, four locations are now under alert level 3. These as the National Capital Region (NCR), Bulacan, Cavite, and Rizal.
Nograles hinted during the same presser that more cities or province could have their ALS status escalated from alert level 2 to alert level 3 in the coming days.
"We will be making the announcements," the Palace official said.
Nograles went on to give reminders to Filipinos in light of the new surge of COVID-19 infections.
"Nasa bansa na ang Omicron na apat na beses na mas nakakahawa kumpara sa Delta variant (The Omircon variant, which is four times more infectious than the Delta variant, is here in the country)," he said.
"Iwasan din natin ang super-spreader events tulad ng Pista ng Itim na Nazareno, Pista ng Sto. Niño, Sinulog Festival, Dinagyang Festival, at Chinese New Year. Manatili na lamang sa pamamahay para iwas-sakit at iwas-hawaan (Let's also avoid super-spreader events like the Feast of the Black Nazarene, Feast of the Sto. Niño, the Sinulog Festival, Dinagyang Festival, and Chinese New Year. Please stay at home to avoid getting sick and getting others sick)," Nograles further said.