By Christine Fabro
The Department of Health (DOH) clarified that there was no escalation of alert level status made among areas mentioned in the recently issued Inter-Agency Task Force resolution.
“The DOH clarifies that the 26 provinces and cities under Alert Level 2 were not escalated from Alert Level 1; rather, these have maintained their Alert Level 2 status since June 2022,” the DOH said in an advisory.
The Health department explained that such areas have vaccination rates lower than 70% of the target total population or 70% of the total senior citizens or A2 population.
“While these areas have reached low risk classifications for cases and utilization rates, these have vaccination rates lower than 70% of the target total and population and/or 70% of the total A2 population (senior citizens),” the DOH said, noting that meeting the targets will allow the areas to be de-escalated to Alert Level 1.
“The DOH further clarifies that the Alert Level System (ALS) continues to provide guidance for every Filipino, so that each may equip themselves with better layers of protection against COVID-19,” it stressed.
Further, it said it is continuously coordinating with the local government units of the identified provinces and cities to increase their COVID-19 vaccination coverage.
The DOH also reminded the public to get vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19. – gb
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