FILE PHOTO: A woman wearing a face mask as protection against the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) waits to ride a bus going to provinces, a day before the New Year’s Eve, at a bus terminal in Paranaque City, Metro Manila, Philippines, December 30, 2021. REUTERS/Lisa Marie David
MANILA, Philippines — The National Capital Region (NCR) does not meet the parameters for it to be declared under Alert Level 4 despite the surge in COVID-19 cases, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said on Monday.
Of the five-tier alert level system, the NCR is currently under Alert Level 3 until January 15.
Nograles, also the acting presidential spokesperson, said that the government is monitoring the two-week growth rate (TWGR), average daily attack rate (ADAR), and total bed utilization to assess if the alert level should be heightened.
“We are actively monitoring all of the metrics and parameters na dapat nating tingnan (that we should look into) and even over and above that. As of the moment, hindi pa po siya tumatama doon sa tatlong metrics natin (the region is not hitting the three metrics) enough for it to declare Alert Level 4,” he said on ANC’s Headstart.
Nograles explained that while Metro Manila’s TWGR and ADAR are high, the total bed utilization rate is not hitting the metrics for Alert Level 4 yet.
READ: NCR’s COVID-19 positivity rate exceeds 50% for the first time — OCTA
“As of the moment, ang Metro Manila nasa moderate pa tayo sa (Metro Manila is moderate when it comes to) total bed utilization. So, it’s not enough for us to declare Alert Level 4,” he pointed out.
According to independent pandemic monitor Octa Research, Metro Manila’s one-week growth rate from January 2 to 8 was 785 percent while the ADAR is 59.81.
ADAR refers to the average number of new cases per 100,000 individuals.
Nograles assured the public that the government will escalate the alert level if the parameters are reached.
“But immediately, ‘pag tumama po ‘yan (if it is reached), we will not hesitate to declare Alert Level 4 in any area, or escalate any area to Alert Level 3,” he said.