DOH Sec. Duque Says Alert Level 4 Shift in NCR Is Possible
DUQUE – Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III spoke on the possibility of placing the National Capital Region (NCR) under Alert Level 4.
The whole Metro Manila is currently under Alert Level 3 following the surge in the COVID-19 cases in several cities. The increase is attributed to the activities of the people during the holiday season. The authorities are also alarmed over the possible spread of the Omicron variant thus stricter curbs are implemented again.
Under Alert Level 3, the mayors also agreed to temporarily restrict the unvaccinated individuals from going out if not for essential purposes. There are still a lot of unvaxxed persons and the local governments are seeking the cooperation of the establishments in implementing the policy.
The said move in Metro Manila which limits the mobility of the unvaccinated individuals gained positive reactions from several authorities in different government departments. They want it done nationwide.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte recently gave the barangay officials under Alert Level 3 an order to check the unvaccinated persons in their area and tell them not to go out temporarily. Some LGUs said they are already on the move.
According to Department of Health (DOH) Sec. Francisco Duque III, the placing of the National Capital Region (NCR) under Alert Level 4 is possible. Speaking to Dobol B, the Health Secretary said that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF) is considering a heightened alert level in Metro Manila.
Duque stressed that the utilization rate of the Intensive Care Units (ICUs) in NCR now is between 47% to 48%. According to him, it is close to moderate risk which means 50% to 70% utilization rate.
Furthermore, based on the report, the Health Secretary expressed that many of the healthcare workers are getting sick and the government is trying to prevent a scenario where there are a lot of bed spaces in hospitals but there are no healthcare workers to attend to the sick.
According to Duque, they are already preparing for the said situation thus the NCR may be put under Alert Level 4. Under the said alert level, establishments are allowed to cater only 10% indoor capacity and 30% outdoor capacity of fully-vaccinated individuals and cinemas, face-to-face classes, amusement parks, and contact sports are not allowed.
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