This file photo shows people waiting outside a hospital in Manila during a surge of COVID-19 infections in January 2022. INQUIRER/MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
MANILA, Philippines — The Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines (PHAPI) is not in favor of downgrading Metro Manila to COVID-19 Alert Level 1 soon, recommending further observation on the trend of coronavirus infections especially amid the campaign season.
PHAPI President Jose Rene de Grano said they are concerned that if the alert level in the captial region is relaxed, people might disregard health protocols such as wearing face masks and social distancing which could lead to another surge of infections.
Nevertheless, Grano said PHAPI would still comply if the government decides to downgrade Metro Manila to the least restrictive alert level.
“Ang recommendasyon namin, kung maaari maghintay tayo ng another two weeks pero kung ‘yan ang decision ng IATF ay siguro susunod naman kami,” he said in a Laging Handa public briefing.
(Our recommendation is to wait for another two weeks, if possible. But if that’s the decision of the IATF, we will comply.)
“Sa amin, worried kami baka after this, luwagan natin masyado at ‘yung mga tao hindi na sumunod sa minimum health protocols at baka bigla magkaroon uli ng surge. Baka kasi pag naging level 1, balewalain na nila itong pag-wear ng mask, social distancing. Delikado ‘yan lalo na sa sorties ng mga nagkakampanya,” he said.
(For us, we’re worried that if we ease restrictions too much, the people would no longer comply with health protocols and we would have another surge. If we are placed under Alert Level 1, they might disregard wearing masks and physical distancing. That’s risky, especially during campaign sorties.)
Still, Grano assured that hospitals are ready should there be another surge of COVID-19 cases.
Currently, he said, utilization rates of hospitals have dropped to below 30% as infections continue to decline.
He then stressed that health protocols should remain strictly complied with even if pandemic restrictions are relaxed.
Earlier, Metro Manila mayors have unanimously voted to recommend to the national government the downgrading of the capital region to COVID-19 Alert Level 1 by March 1, according to Metro Manila Council chairman Edwin Olivarez.
The IATF is set to meet on Thursday afternoon to discuss this and the alert levels in other areas across the country.
For his part, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said in the same briefing that with current Metro Manila’s metrics, it can already be placed under Alert Level 1, considering that its vaccination rate of senior citizens is at 83.9% and over 100% of its target population are now fully vaccinated.
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