The Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases will continue under the administration of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., Malacañang said.
Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said this as the public awaits the new Covid-19 alert levels as the current risk classification status of different areas in the country lapsed on Friday, July 15.
In her press briefing, Angeles said that the transition to the new administration did not stop the IATF from doing its job.
"Tuluy-tuloy naman po ang trabaho ng IATF; hindi naman po sila naantala kahit (nagbago na) ng administrasyon (The IATF continues to do its job. They never stopped even if there was a change in the administration)," she said.
However, she was unsure when the task force will meet and announce the new alert level classifications for the second half of the month.
"Hindi po namin masasabi iyong kung kailan sila magmi-meet (We can't say when they will meet)," Angeles said.
"Titingnan po natin. Medyo speculative kasi maaari naman po tayong gumawa ng extension for necessary agencies kung saka-sakali (We'll just see. It would speculative since we can make extensions for necessary agencies, if necessary)," she added.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte activated the IATF in 2020 following the detection of Covid-19 in the country.
Since then, members of the group, headed by the Health Secretary and the Executive Secretary, have been meeting to discuss measures to address the pandemic.
Last month, before the end of the Duterte administration, the IATF placed many parts of the country, including Metro Manila, under Alert Level 1 until July 15. Alert Level 1 is the least strict classification.
The task force has yet to announce the alert level classifications for the month's latter half.