Philippines remains under Alert Level 2, spike in Covid cases noted

DUE TO the sudden spike in Covid-19 cases in the country, the National Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases has extended Alert Level 2 status in all regions until January 15 in an effort to control the spread of the deadly respiratory virus.

“The Inter-Agency Task Force approved the recommendation to maintain all provinces, highly urbanized cities, and independent component cities under Alert Level 2 from January 1, 2022 until January 15, 2022,” said acting presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles.

Nograles said the IATF likewise released an updated risk classification of countries, territories, and jurisdictions effective January 1-15.

Destinations under the “red” list or those at high risk of Covid-19 infection are Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, and Spain.

And those in the so-called “green” list or countries at low risk of Covid-19 infection are Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, British Virgin Islands, China (Mainland), Cote d’ Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Fiji, The Gambia, Guinea, Hong Kong (Chinese Special Administrative Region), Indonesia, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Montserrat, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Rwanda, Saba (Special Municipality of the Kingdom of the Netherlands), Saint Barthelemy, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sint Eustatius, Taiwan, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Togo, Uganda and the United Arab Emirates.

All other countries, territories and jurisdictions not mentioned above shall be under the “yellow” risk or those at moderate risk of Covid-19 infection.

The IATF also approved the acceptance or recognition for purposes of arrival quarantine protocols as well as for interzonal or intrazonal movement the national Covid-19 vaccination certificate of Armenia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Kuwait, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United States of America, and Oman. This is in addition to such other countries, territories or jurisdictions whose proofs of vaccination the IATF already approved for recognition in the Philippines, and without prejudice to such other proofs of vaccination approved by the IATF for all inbound travelers.

The Bureau of Quarantine, the Department of Transportation and the Bureau of Immigration are directed to recognize only the proofs of vaccination thus approved by the IATF.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said it is unclear whether the surge in Covid-19 cases was due to influx of people during the Yuletide holidays or because of the new Omicron variant which is way more contagious than the Delta variant. (Azer Parrocha)