A lawmaker, an epidemiologist and several others are calling for the deferment in easing further to Alert Level 1 in view of the threat of surging infections caused by the omicron variant. The lawmaker proposes deferment of until January 15, 2022 while others prefer end December 2021.
EVEN with decreasing reported cases of infection from COVID 19 and its variant, Omicron, the government was advised to maintain Alert Level 2—now implemented throughout the country—until January 15, next year.
This was proposed by Rep. Angelica Natasha Co of BHW partylist even as she said she favors keeping the current alert level during her proposed timeframe provided the barangay health emergency response teams (BHERT) and hospitals are strengthened along with their capacities to absorb possible Omicron cases and new Delta cases from the December holidays.
ABS-CBN also cited Dr. Rontgene Solante’s advise last Sunday for government to delay further easing the COVID restrictions amid the looming threat of omicron.
Dr. Solante said he prefers the restrictions be stayed for now and extending Alert Level 2 imposition, scheduled to end on Wednesday, Dec. 15 until the end of the month.
Rep. Co said the unvaccinated should be “kept out of areas where the risk or chances of first contact with Omicron is high.”
“For their own protection, ban the unvaccinated from all airports, seaports, hotels, and the closed areas of restaurants and malls,” Co, member of the House Health Committee added,
“Be ready in case there is a new surge in late December or in January whether of the Delta or Omicron kind. There will unavoidably and inevitably be public gatherings, parties, and close contacts at home and elsewhere,” Co said.
Co added that the Philippines government “must help the Southern African countries in whatever doable ways available.”
“This is a matter of diplomatic necessity and international solidarity. We must set a good example for other countries to follow,” Co explained.
Last December 7, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said it is better that Metro Manila, the nation’s capital region, will remain under Alert Level 2 for now considering the threat of the Omicron variant, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Tuesday.
“Para sa akin, siguro tama lang na manatili muna tayo sa Alert Level 2,” Duque said in a Laging Handa public briefing. (For me, I think it is only right that we remain under Alert Level 2 for now.)
“Ang mobility tataas na naman ‘yan ngayong kapaskuhan, alam natin yan at lalong nagbabadya ang Omicron variant so maigi na mas konserbatibo tayo,” he added.
(Mobility is expected to increase during the Christmas season, we all know that, and the Omicron is looming over us, so it’s better that we’re more conservative.)
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He pointed out that reopened establishments and the loosened restrictions are enough for now to let the economy recover.
Metro Manila is currently under Alert Level 2 until Dec. 15. Duque said the government’s pandemic task force will discuss on Thursday on updates on the alert level implementation and other policies.
President Rodrigo Duterte has said he sees “better days ahead” as the COVID-19 situation in the country continues to improve, citing the downward trend of cases of the severe respiratory illness.
He noted that additional daily cases have been averaging to 500 to 600 since Dec. 1.
In November, Duque said Metro Manila could shift to a less restrictive Alert Level 1 if COVID-19 cases go down below 1,000 or 500.
Tags: #defermentofeasingalertlevels, #omicronvariant, #COVID19