The Philippines has already “overcome” the challenges brought about by the highly-transmissible Omicron coronavirus variant, but the public should not lower their guard just yet as COVID-19 continues to pose as a threat, the Department of Health (DOH) said.
Makati CBD skyline
“Tayo po ay naka overcome nung challenge natin with Omicron. Nakita po natin kung gaano kadami yung kasong dumating at gaano din natin mabilis na napababa ang mga kaso sa ating bansa (We have overcome the challenges in relation to Omicron. We have seen the number of cases detected and how fast we have reduced the number of cases in our country),” said DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire during a public briefing on Saturday, Feb. 19.
On Friday, Feb. 18, Vergeire said that the country is currently under the low-risk case classification for COVID-19.
“Atin na pong nalampasan ang hamon buhat ng Omicron at kasalukuyan na po tayong nasa low risk case classification…Patuloy pong bumababa ang ating average daily reported cases (We have overcome the challenges from Omicron and we are currently in the low risk case classification… Our average daily reported cases continue to decline),” she then said.
Despite this encouraging situation, Vergeire reiterated that adherence to health protocols and vaccination remain vital in keeping the low number of cases.
“Mababa ang kaso dahil nagco-comply tayo sa safety protocols at nagpapabakuna. Pero once na mag-increase ang mobility tapos nagkaroon ng complacency sa pagsunod sa minimum public health standards, maaring tumaas uli ang kaso dahil alam natin lahat na nandito pa rin po yung virus (The number of cases is low because we comply with the safety protocols and are getting vaccinated. But once mobility increases and then there is complacency in following the minimum public health standards, the cases may increase again because we all know that the virus is still here),” she said.
Alert level 1
The DOH spokesperson was optimistic that all areas in the Philippines will soon shift to the “new normal” or Alert Level 1—the lowest in the country’s alert level system.
Currently, the DOH is monitoring seven areas with a “high number” of COVID-19 cases. Vergeire did not specify what these areas are.
“Pagtiningnan natin in terms of cases makikita natin mukhang magagawa naman natin kasi sa ngayon pitong areas nalang sa buong bansa ang binabantayan na meron pa rin na kaunting mataas na kaso. They are in moderate risk yung iba, yung iba---ospital ang binabantayan natin (If we look at it in terms of cases, it looks like we can do it because so far, only seven areas in the country are being monitored because of a slightly high number of cases. They are at moderate risk, while we are monitoring the hospital capacity in other areas),” she said.
“Sa tingin namin handa na ang ating mga kababayan and with our high vaccination coverage at sana magtuloy-tuloy pang tumaas, sa tingin namin at kumpiyansa tayo, na tayo po ay makakaagapay at (We believe that our citizens are ready and with our high vaccination coverage---hopefully we continue to increase this---we think and we are confident, that we can be able to keep up and) we can be able to prevent further infections once we de escalate to Alert Level 1,” she added.
If Alert Level 1 will be implemented, Vergeire emphasized the importance of “self-regulation” since restrictions will be lifted.
“Dito sa (In the) new normal---Alert Level 1 does not have any restrictions at all. Ang mga sektor po natin magbubukas, wala na po tayong mga capacity restrictions sa iba't-ibang establisyimento, tayo po ay makakabalik na sa kinagawian (All sectors will open up, we will no longer have capacity restrictions in the different establishments, we will be able to go back to normal),” she said.
“Ngunit mare-retain po natin yung ating pag self regulate. Ibig sabihin, yung behavior ng tao kailangan mabago. Kailangan tuloy-tuloy pa rin tayong magco-comply sa minimum public health standards at kasama diyan ang pagsusuot pa rin ng mask, palagiang paghuhugas ng kamay, physical distancing if applicable sa isang sektor na pupuntahan natin, and of course, ventilation (But we should retain self-regulation. It means the public's behavior needs to be changed. We must continue to comply with minimum public health standards and that includes still wearing a mask, regular hand washing, physical distancing if applicable to a sector we are going to, and of course, ventilation),” she added.