By Myris Lee
The Department of Health explained on Friday (April 1) why the government has not yet implemented Alert Level 1 nationwide despite a decline in the number of COVID-19 cases across the country.
According to DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergerie, the government’s metrics for alert level classification include case classification, healthcare utilization, and vaccination coverage.
“Always remember, in order for us to be able to ensure that the population will be adequately protected in spite of us easing restrictions, vaccination should be high para protektado ang mga tao,” she said in a Palace briefing.
“In terms of those 57 areas na hindi pa nade-deescalate, hindi pa nila nararating o na-a-achieve yung target for vaccination, that’s why they still cannot be deescalated to Alert Level 1,” she added.
The DOH official said they are currently monitoring and working on COVID-19 vaccination coverage.
Reporting on the country’s COVID-19 situation, she said all areas are under low to minimal risk case classification, or that they are already qualified for deescalation “in terms of number of cases.”
“Kapag tinitingnan natin ang healthcare utilization, low-risk lang din po lahat ng ating mga regional areas with regards to hospital bed capacity o hospital bed utilization,” she said.
The government on Thursday placed Metro Manila and 48 other areas under Alert Level 1 until April 15. – ag
