IATF finalizing parameters on alert system amid Omicron threat

MANILA, Philippines — The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases is finalizing the parameters before deciding on the new quarantine status to be raised in a locality amid the looming threat of the Omicron COVID-19 variant.

During Monday’s Palace press briefing, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles was asked if the IATF is still considering placing Metro Manila under Alert Level 1, the most lenient status, in December.

“Sa ngayon po, fina-finalize pa rin po ng IATF ‘yung mga parameters na gagamitin natin para makapag-deescalate or makapag-declare po tayo ng localities under Alert Level 1. Sa ngayon po ay hindi pa po namin naisapinal ang mga parameters na ‘yan,” Nograles, also the acting presidential and IATF spokesperson, responded.

(Currently, the IATF is finalizing the parameters that would be used to know if Alert Level 1 could be declared in localities. As of now, the parameters are not yet finalized.)

“We’re also monitoring the developments with regard to Omicron and all these other developments worldwide. So, I cannot really put a date kung kailan po namin mafa-finalize ‘yung (when we can finalize the) parameters. It’s an ongoing process pa po,” he added.

Of the five-tier alert level system, Metro Manila is under Level 2 until November 30.

To prevent or delay the entry of Omicron variant in the Philippines, the government has banned inbound flights from South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, and Italy until December 15.

The government, however, has yet to shut the borders on Hong Kong and Australia, which are the closest areas in the region that already had a confirmed case of Omicron.

The B.1.1.529, a variant of concern and given a Greek name Omicron, was recently discovered in South Africa.

EDV