DTI: No need for Alert Level 0 as economy is open

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said on Sunday that there was no longer a need for the country to further ease its COVID-19 status to Alert Level 0 as the economy was “totally open.”

In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, Lopez said that with several areas now under Alert Level 1, businesses have gone back to 100% operations and even the tourism sector had opened to both local and foreign tourists.

“Sa amin ho, hindi na kailangan mag-Alert Level 0 kasi bukas, totally open ang economy eh. Napagusapan namin sa IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) for a while ‘yan at coming from the economic team, nakikita natin open naman ang economy,” he said.

(For us, there is no need to implement Alert Level 0 because the economy is totally open. We have talked about this in an IATF meeting and the economic team even said that the economy is already open.)

The National Capital Region and some 47 other areas were placed under Alert Level 1 from March 16 to March 31.

Under Alert Level 1, which is the lowest level under the alert system, intrazonal and interzonal travel was allowed without regard to age and comorbidities. All establishments, persons, or activities, were allowed to operate, work, or be undertaken at full on-site or venue/seating capacity provided it was consistent with minimum public health standards.

“Itong Alert 1, nandun na tayo. Ang pinagkaiba na lang ng Alert Level 0 ay ‘yung mask. ‘Yun na lang nakikita namin eh, so hindi na kailangan for us,” Lopez added.

(The only difference we could see between Alert Level 0 and Alert Level 1 is the wearing of face masks. That’s why, for us, there is no longer a need.)

The Department of Trade and Industry (DT) chief, however, noted that they still did not recommend that the public remove their face masks despite the COVID-19 infections decreasing in the country. He also encouraged people to take their primary anti-COVID vaccine series and booster shots.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III previously said the government was studying the possibility of Alert Level 0, the elements of which would be discussed by the IATF and other government advisers.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority also said Metro Manila mayors would recommend such a shift to Alert Level 0. — DVM, GMA News