NCR health workers still not at ease despite decline in COVID-19 numbers —Olivarez

The head of the Metro Manila Council (MMC) on Thursday admitted that health workers are not yet at ease despite the downtrend in healthcare utilization in the National Capital Region amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Interviewed on Dobol B TV,  Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez said the healthcare utilization in the NCR has gradually gone down.

"Ngayon bumababa siya nang kaunti, hindi pa rin talaga natin masasabi na kampante 'yung health workers natin [Despite the slight decline, we still cannot say that our health workers are at ease]," he said.

The downtrend in healthcare utilization in NCR was one the factors that the government considered in lowering the region's alert level from 4 to 3 starting October 16.

"Kailangan ibabalanse po ng ating pamahalaan 'yung ekonomiya at 'yung pangangalaga ng ating kalusugan [Our government has to balance economy and health]," Olivarez said.

Olivarez said the shift of Metro Manila from Alert Level 4 to Alert Level 3 was also based on the decrease in the reproduction number of COVID-19 cases.

On Wednesday, the government's inter-agency task force in addressing the pandemic approved the recommendation to place the NCR under Alert Level 3 from October 16 to 31, 2021.

Under Alert Level 3, several establishments will be allowed to operate at 30% indoor venue capacity only for fully vaccinated individuals and 50% outdoor venue capacity, provided that all employees are fully vaccinated. —KBK, GMA News