FILE PHOTO: A passenger sits inside a tricycle covered with a reminder to wear a mask, part of COVID-19 health protocols, in Manila in February. AFP
Metro Manila and other areas in the country would remain under the most lenient alert level 1 from June 1 to June 15 despite the local transmission of an Omicron subvariant, Malacañang announced on Friday.
Aside from Metro Manila, deputy presidential spokesperson Kris Ablan said at a Palace briefing that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has approved the most relaxed alert level for Abra, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Baguio City, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Dagupan City, Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Santiago City, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Angeles City and Olongapo City.
Also placed under alert level 1 were Batangas, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, Lucena City, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Puerto Princesa City, Albay, Catanduanes and Naga City.
In the Visayas, also placed under the alert level 1 were Aklan, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Bacolod City, Siquijor, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Biliran, Eastern Samar, Southern Leyte, Ormoc City and Tacloban City.
In Mindanao, placed under the most lenient alert classification were Zamboanga City, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan City, Davao Oriental, Davao City, Surigao del Sur and Butuan City.
Full capacity
The following component cities and municipalities were also on alert level 1: Looc, Occidental Mindoro; Pamplona, Camarines Sur; Mandaon, Masbate; Villaba, Leyte; Salug, Zamboanga del Norte; Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur; Nabunturan, Davao de Oro; New Bataan, Davao de Oro; San Francisco, Agusan del Sur; Dinagat, Dinagat Islands; and Mainit, Surigao del Norte.
The IATF rules said establishments and public transportation in areas on alert level 1 could operate on full capacity while schools could conduct in-person classes.
Ablan also said the IATF repealed the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd)-Department of Health joint memorandum that required medical insurance for students attending in-person classes.
He said the IATF approved the repeal of the memorandum following the recommendation of CHEd.
The government earlier required students joining in-person classes to be registered with the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. or any medical insurance company providing coverage for COVID-19-related expenses.
READ: Omicron community transmission in Metro Manila confirmed – DOH