DAVAO CITY avoided being placed under Alert Level 2 as the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) sounded the alarm on increasing COVID-19 cases in the surrounding provinces.
Acting city health officer Dr. Marjorie Culas said IATF issued Resolution No. 6-C dated April 14, defining the Alert Level of some areas from April 16-30, 2023.
“Kung i-go over gyud to nimo nga advisory Davao City is still Alert Level 1, wala man pud ta nag Alert Level Zero, so maintain lang gihapon ta Alert Level 1, (If you would go over the advisory Davao City is still under Alert Level 1, we did not declare Alert Level Zero, so we maintain our status under Alert Level 1),” Culas said.
The IATF issued a resolution placing 26 areas under Alert Level 2, which some restrictions, including 50% capacity for indoor establishments and 70% for outdoors.
In Region XI, the provinces placed under Alert Level 2 are Davao de Oro (except Nabunturan, Mawab, New Bataan, and Motevista), Davao Del Norte (except Samal Island, Braulio E. Dujali, and Santo Tomas), Davao Del Sur (except Padada), and Davao Occidental (except Malita, Don Marcelino, and Santa Maria).
She said that the Department of Health had already clarified the recently issued IATF Resolution.
“Ang ingon pod sa Department of Health kadtong nag Alert Level 2, bale Alert Level 2 pa gihapon sila bale wala sila nag-ubos o wala pud sila nag Alert Level 1 to Alert Level 2 same lang gihapon to sila (The Department of Health said that those under Alert Level 2 are those previously on Alert Level 2, meaning their alert level did not change between Levels 1 and 2, so it is still the same),” Culas said.
“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).
Meeting these targets will allow these areas to be de-escalated to Alert Level 1.
“Also, no province or city has been escalated to Alert Level 2 from Alert Level 1 since January 2023,” the DOH advisory read.
The same advisory states that the Alert Level System (ALS) continues to guide every Filipino so that each may equip themselves with better protection against COVID-19.
Culas reiterated that under Alert Level 1, intrazonal and interzonal travels should be allowed without regard to age and comorbidities; all establishments, persons, or activities are allowed to operate, work, or be undertaken on full on-site or venue/seating capacity provided that it is consistent with the minimum public health standards.
