FILE PHOTO: Test tube with Coronavirus label is seen in this illustration taken on January 29, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has discouraged appeals for a COVID-19 protocol less restrictive than Alert Level 1, saying it is not possible for now because many areas nationwide are still battling the transmission of the coronavirus.
During his weekly briefing on Tuesday night, Duterte said that while there area calls for an “Alert Level 0” due to the decreased number of infections, it is difficult to be complacent as reinfections may spread, which in turn can lead to mutated and possibly infectious versions of the virus.
“You know lahat gusto halos balik na sa zero, or lahat (Alert Level) one. ‘Di pwede kasi may mga lugar na meron pa, until such time na talagang almost isa, dalawa na lang all over the country, ‘yang Alert (Level) 1 would still be a good, parang buffer natin,” he said.
“‘Wag na muna tanggalin natin ‘yan until we are very sure that everything is really alright especially sa ating lugar. Kasi mag-reinfect nang mag-reinfect ‘yan tapos may mutant na bago, dyan ang magka-problema,” he added.
Last March 11, an infectious disease expert claimed that the country may be ready for an Alert Level 0 scenario, especially with numbers going down since the COVID-19 Omicron variant-led surge in early January.
READ: PH looks ready for Alert Level 0, says infectious disease expert
Mayors in Metro Manila have expressed readiness to implement an Alert Level 0, but Health Secretary Francisco Duque III distanced himself from the proposal.
READ: MMDA: Metro Manila mayors ‘ready, willing’ to implement Alert Level 0
READ: Duque backs off Alert Level 0
Health experts believed that the COVID-19 virus mutates once it jumps from one host to another, which leads to more infectious and sometimes more deadly versions of the virus.
The mutating nature of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has led Duterte to insist on keeping the mask mandate in order to ensure the protection of the public.
READ: Expert’s warning: Coronavirus mutation can only happen among unvaccinated, immunocompromised
“Sa COVID-19, sabi bumababa na, but we have to follow the most basic and fundamental gadget that can help which is the mask. Kaya hindi rin siguro (mataas ang cases) kasi ang Pilipino naniniwala. Ang Amerikano kasi pati sa China ngayon pumuputok, Japan, nagkakaroon sila ng surge na mataas while they are now challenging the COVID-19,” Duterte continued.
“Tayo naman dito parang we are not over the hump, but we continue to be conscious of the requirements. ’Yan lang naman, alcohol […] alcohol lang or sanitizer or whatever,” he added.