FILE PHOTO: DOH Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire. INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday reminded the public that COVID-19 has not yet reached the endemic state in the Philippines even if Metro Manila and 38 other areas across the country would be placed on Alert Level 1 starting March.
Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire stressed that the Philippines is only at a level where it is transitioning to the “new normal.”
“Hindi pa tapos ang pandemya. Hindi pa rin tayo dumarating doon sa sinasabi nating endemic state. Nandito ngayon tayo sa lebel ng ating sitwasyon kung saan we are transitioning dito sa gusto nating marating na new normal,” she explained during a briefing.
(The pandemic is not yet over. We have not yet reached what we call the endemic state. We are at a level where we are transitioning to our desired new normal.)
Metro Manila and 38 other areas will be under Alert Level 1 from March 1-15.
Despite the easing of restrictions, Vergeire reminded that the government may still escalate the alert levels should there be another spike in COVID-19 infections, especially in severe and critical cases, that would threaten the hospital capacity in the country.
She urged the public to “self-regulate” and strictly comply with health protocols in order to avoid another surge of infections.
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