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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider No indication to place NCR under Alert Level 2—infectious disease expert

No indication to place NCR under Alert Level 2—infectious disease expert

Published Jun 20, 2022 01:52 pm

An infectious disease expert on Monday, June 20, said there is still no indication to place the National Capital Region (NCR) under the more restrictive Alert Level 2.

Dr. Edsel Maurice T. Salvaña (Screenshot taken from Laging Handa FB Live )

Recently, the number of Covid-19 cases in the NCR slightly went up, but the hospital utilization rate remains low. The NCR is currently under Alert Level 1.

Dr. Edsel Maurice T. Salvana, who is also a member of the Department of Health-Technical Advisory Group (DOH-TAG), said the healthcare system of the country is still not overwhelmed.

“Well, at this point naman, wala naman talagang indikasyon na kailangan nating mag-move to Alert Level 2. Because, again, ang pinakapakay naman talaga ng ating alert level system is really to preserve the healthcare system (Well, at this point, there is still no indication that we need to move to Alert Level 2. Because, again, the main aim of our alert level system is really to preserve the health alert system),” he said during a “Laging Handa” briefing.

The country’s healthcare system is still far from the point that it will be overwhelmed, Salvana said.

He attributed this to the continuous inoculation against Covid-19 and the use of face masks in the country.

“Unang-una, ‘yung vaccination rates natin are really keeping the number of hospitalizations very low, even if tumataas actually ang number of cases. ‘Yung number of people in need of urgent medical care is very, very low, and pangalawa is ‘yung paggamit ng mask ng mga tao (First, our vaccination rates are keeping the hospitalizations very even if the number of cases actually went up. The number of people in need of urgent care is very, very low, and second is the use of face masks of the public),” he said.

In May, presidential adviser for Covid-19 response Vince Dizon said at least 77 percent of the country’s eligible population are “fully vaccinated.”

It can be recalled that the DOH wants the masking rule to remain in the country, noting the experiences of other countries that have earlier lifted their masking protocol. The said countries experienced a sudden surge in Covid-19 cases after lifting their masking rule.

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No indication to place NCR under Alert Level 2—infectious disease expert
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