The Department of Health on Wednesday said the entire Philippines must be under Alert Level 1 before the government would start de-escalating areas to Alert Level 0.
In a Palace briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Alert Level 0 was not yet an official term adopted by the government.
“Alert Level 1 is the lowest na atin po sa alert level system kung saan we have 100 percent capacity already, manageable po ang kaso,” she said.
“Ang rason po kung bakit hindi po tayo bumababa pa beyond Alert Level 1 is because may kaso pa rin naman po tayo,” she added.
The Philippines recorded 4,131 new Covid-19 cases from March 7 to 13, which translates to an average of 590 daily cases.
“So, hindi pa rin ho natin tinatanggal ang Alert Level 1, magpapatuloy po ito hanggang sa makita po natin na ang buong Pilipinas, lahat ng areas makita po natin na dumating na tayo doon sa Alert Level 1 status ng lahat,” Vergeire said.
“Kapag nakita na natin iyan sa buong Pilipinas, maaari na po tayong mag-usap nang further easing of restrictions and refocusing of our resources,” she added.
Sixty-four areas in the country are under Alert Level 1 from March 16-31. John Ezekiel J. Hirro