Effects of Alert Level 1 known in 10-14 days after implementation –Vergeire

The effects of putting the National Capital Region (NCR) and 38 other areas under Alert Level 1 amid the COVID-19 pandemic will be seen 10 to 14 days after its implementation, the Department of Health (DOH) said Tuesday.

“Kailangan maintindihan ng public na kung ano man ang magiging epekto ng pag-implementa natin ng Alert Level 1 dito sa areas natin na 39, ito ay makikita pa natin in about 10-14 days,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said during a Palace briefing.

(The public needs to understand that whatever the effects of Alert Level 1 are, they will be seen in 10 to 14 days.)

Vergeire however said that updates about the public’s compliance with the minimum public health standards during the first day of the implementation of Alert Level 1 may be given on Wednesday.

“Hindi po natin masasabi na halimbawa biglang tumaas ng dalawa ang kaso bukas ay epekto na po ‘yan ng Alert Level 1 na ginawa natin. Sa ngayon, wala pa po. Maybe tomorrow, we can give updates,” she said.

(We cannot say, for example, that a sudden increase of two cases tomorrow is the effect of Alert Level 1. So far we have no updates, maybe tomorrow.)

NCR and 38 more areas nationwide have been placed under Alert Level 1, the lowest under the new alert level system, starting Tuesday, March 1, and will last until March 15.

Under Alert Level 1, intrazonal and interzonal travel shall be allowed without regard to age and comorbidities. All establishments, persons, or activities, are allowed to operate, work, or be undertaken at full on-site or venue/seating capacity provided it is consistent with minimum public health standards. —KBK, GMA News