The entire National Capital Region (NCR)-plus is now practically under alert level 3.
Cabinet Secretary and Acting Presidential Spokesperson Karlo Nograles announced in a statement late Wednesday night, Jan. 5 the impending escalation of Laguna from alert level 2 to alert level 3.
"The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) approved tonight, January 5, 2022, the recommendation of its sub-Technical Working Group on Data Analytics to escalate Laguna to alert level 3, due to the rising number of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) cases in the province," the statement read.
"This shall take effect from Jan. 7, 2022, until Jan. 15, 2022," it further stated.
The NCR-plus covers NCR (Metro Manila), Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, and Laguna.
NCR was the first area to get its alert level elevated to alert level 3 last Jan. 3. Bulacan, Cavite, and Rizal followed suit Wednesday.
The rest of the Philippines retained its alert level 2 classification and will do so until Jan. 15 unless the IATF decides to make another escalation in connection with the current surge in COVID-19 cases.
Nograles also serves as spokesperson of the IATF.