About two years ago, our province- and city-wide restrictions are labeled with Community Quarantine classifications. These were later modified with caveats: Enhanced Community Quarantine, Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine, and so on. This system was later scrapped and changed to a five-step Alert Level scheme. And now that we're nearing the pandemic's "endgame," as claimed by vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. on February 2, Metro Manila mayors unanimously agreed to place the National Capital Region under the lowest quarantine grade starting March 1.
Paranaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez, who heads the Metro Manila council, said on Wednesday, February 23: "Ito pong Alert Level 1 na ito, proper implementation, minimum health standard, palagay ko po unti-unti na makaka-recover ang ating economy at gustong-gusto po 'yan ng ating mga negosyante." He also told DZRH radio that their recommendation was based on data from the region's epidemiology units.
Business groups on Monday, February 21, said that they're also in favor of placing Metro Manila under Alert Level 1. Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry President George Barcelon, and Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry President Henry Lim Bon Liong all agreed the country should open up the economy.
According to the Inter-Agency Task Force's omnibus guidelines (as of December 14, 2021), Alert Level 1 refers to "areas wherein case transmission is low and decreasing, total bed utilization rate, and intensive care unit utilization rate is low."
Here are the Alert Level 1 guidelines:
Intrazonal and interzonal movement shall be allowed without regard to age and comorbidities.
All establishments, persons, or activities, are allowed to operate, work, or be undertaken at full on-site or venue/seating capacity provided it is consistent with minimum public health standards; provided further, that face-to-face classes for basic education shall be subject to prior approval of the Office of the President.
The Inter-Agency Task Force will meet with President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, February 24, for the final decision regarding the change of Alert Level by the end of the month.
Source: www.spot.ph
Comments