Duque: Metro Manila ‘ripe’ for COVID-19 Alert Level 1

MANILA, Philippines — Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Thursday said Metro Manila is ready and “ripe” to ease to Alert Level 1 because of its improving COVID-19 situation.

Duque pointed out that the capital region’s two-week growth rate is already negative, the average daily attack rate is already at moderate risk, and the health care utilization rate is below 30% which is deemed low-risk classification.

On top of this, Duque said 83.9% of Metro Manila’s senior citizens are already vaccinated against COVID-19 and that inoculation of its total target population is now at 100%.

“Ang NCR (Metro Manila) pasado na sa kanilang mga metrics – hinog in other words,” he said in a Laging Handa public briefing.

(NCR has passed all metrics — it’s ripe, in other words.)

He made the statement as the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) is set to meet on Thursday afternoon to discuss COVID-19 alert levels across the country.

In this meeting,

The Metro Manila Council (MMC) is expected to recommend in this meeting its decision to relax coronavirus curbs in the metropolis to Alert Level 1 by March 1.

To ensure the public’s safety during the easing of restrictions, Duque said the wearing of face masks will remain mandatory as well as the proper hand hygiene and other health protocols.

RELATED STORIES

Metro Manila ready for COVID-19 Alert Level 1, says OCTA Research

Duque sees Metro Manila under COVID-19 Alert Level 1

It’s a good time to downgrade COVID-19 alert level, says health expert

KGA