IATF amends metrics for determining alert levels; Apayao to be under Alert Level 2

MANILA, Philippines — The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases amended the metrics that will be used to determine what alert level would be raised over provinces, highly urbanized cities, and independent component cities, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles announced on Thursday.

Using the new metrics, Apayao will be deescalated from Alert Level 3 to Alert Level 2, like the rest of the country, from December 3 to 15.

READ: Metro Manila to remain under COVID Alert Level 2 until December 15

According to Nograles, the one-week growth rate was removed as a metric for escalation from Alert Level 1 to Alert Level 2.

The heightening of alert level will be based on COVID-19 case classification and COVID-19 bed utilization.

“[T]he escalation of areas under Alert Level 1 to Alert Level 2 if either case classification or total COVID-19 bed utilization increases to moderate risk or higher,” Nograles explained.

“[T]he escalation of areas under Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 3 if both case classification and total COVID-19 bed utilization are at moderate risk, or if case classification is at high to critical risk,” he added.

The government implemented a five-tier COVID-19 alert level system in September in a bid to balance the country’s economy and public safety from the coronavirus.

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