The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) will analyze first data analytics on coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation in Metro Manila and other areas before deciding on any proposal to downgrade the COVID alert status in any part of the country, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año said.
“The IATF is set to meet on Thursday. We will listen to the presentation of the TWG on Data Analytics,’’ Año said.
In the event of an Alert Level 1 shift, Año insisted that wearing face masks will remain in place after some raised the question if the possible downgrade will excuse them from wearing the basic protective measure against the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19).
“Wearing of face mask will still be required at any Alert Level while use of face shields will be required at Alert Level 4 and 5,’’ he explained.
On Feb. 22, DILG Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya stressed the need for authorities to painstakingly consider the pros and cons before deciding whether to deescalate the country to Alert Level in the midst of the election campaign period.
He expressed uneasiness over the prospect of imposing a more relaxed Alert Level system citing the extreme difficulty of enforcing the minimum public health standards (MPHS) especially with the start of the local campaign period on March 25.
Before downgrading to Alert Level 1, Malaya emphasized the need of ensuring proper ventilation in all areas where crowds converge, strengthen the country’s vaccination program against the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), urge establishments including churches to apply for safety seal certification to have third party assessment if they are compliant with government regulations.
Further, Malaya pointed out that the COVID-19 surge in India in the past came at the time of their election period and religious activities where clustering of crowds were beyond control.
On Feb. 23, the Metro Manila mayors recommended the downgrade of the National Capital Region (NCR) to Alert Level 1 starting March 1 with the steady plummeting of COVID-19 cases in recent weeks.
Earlier, independent monitoring group OCTA Research said Metro Manila’s COVID-19 positivity rate is down to 4.9 percent which is lower than the recommended 5 percent of the World Health Organization (WHO).
The group noted that it is the first time that the NCR COVID-19 positivity rate went below the 5 percent mark since December 26, 2021 prior to the virus surge due to the Omicron variant transmission.
“NCR remained at low risk classification for COVID-19 with an average daily attack rate (ADAR) of 2.85 and a reproduction number of 2.85,’’ OCTA Research added.
Under Alert Level 1, the Department of Health (DOH) said that intrazonal and interzonal travel would be allowed despite age and comorbidity while all establishments and activities will be permitted to operate “full on-site or venue/seating capacity.’’ (Chito A. Chavez)