By Myris Lee
The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases announced April 13 that Metro Manila will remain under Alert Level 1, along with over 60 other areas from April 16 to 30 amid the continuous decline of COVID-19 cases in the country.
In Luzon, placed under the lowest level are Abra, Apayao, Baguio City, Mountain Province,Kalinga,Dagupan City, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union,Pangasinan,Batanes, Cagayan, City of Santiago, Isabela,Quirino,Angeles City, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Olongapo City, Pampanga, Tarlac,Zambales,Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Lucena City,Rizal,Marinduque, Puerto Princesa City, Romblon,Oriental Mindoro, Catanduanes, Naga City, and Albay.
In Visayas, 14 areas are also placed in the least strict alert level, namely Aklan, Bacolod City, Capiz, Guimaras,Iloilo City,Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Siquijor,Biliran, Eastern Samar, Ormoc City, Southern Leyte, and Tacloban City.
While in Mindanao, due to low vaccination rates in some areas in the island, only four areas are included, namely Sapang Dalaga, Misamis Occidental,Tantangan and South Cotabato.
No changes in restrictions and protocols were made to the extended Alert Level.
Meanwhile, placed under Alert Level 2 in Luzon are Benguet, Ifugao,Nueva Vizcaya,Quezon Province,Occidental Mindoro,Palawan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Masbate, and Sorsogon.
For Visayas, Antique, Negros Occidental, Iloilo Province, Bohol,Cebu,Negros Oriental,Leyte, Northern Samar, and Western Samar.
While in Mindanao, Alert Level 2 covers City of Isabela, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay,Lanao del Norte,Misamis Occidental,Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro,Davao Occidental,General Santos City, North Cotabato, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat,South Cotabato,Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte,Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao,Basilan, Cotabato City, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, and Tawi-tawi.
The government’s COVID-19 task force started to place the National Capital Region and other areas under the Alert Level 1 last March 1. – ag
