Palace: Philippines not yet ready to transition to COVID-19 Alert Level 1

Malacañang said Tuesday that no area in the country was qualified to be placed under a COVID-19 Alert Level 1 which is the lowest alert level.

Acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles made the response to the query if the government would proceed with its initial plan of further easing restrictions to Alert Level 1 in Metro Manila for the Christmas month of December to generate more economic activity.

"We are still finalizing parameters on what would make an area qualified for Alert Level 1 protocol. Right now, we are not yet ready to declare Alert Level 1 anywhere," Nograles said during the Laging Handa briefing.

In addition, Nograles said that Metro Manila would remain under Alert Level 2 from December 1 to 15 given its average daily attack rate, two-week growth rate, and healthcare utilization.

"The guidelines are there, and the local government units should be prepared to implement a granular lockdown if need be," Nograles added.

Granular lockdowns limit the lockdown to areas with community transmission of COVID-19.

The Philippines earlier reversed its policy of allowing entry of fully vaccinated foreigners against COVID-19 from low-risk countries after South African authorities detected an Omicron variant of the coronavirus. — DVM, GMA News