DOH: NCR, 72 others to remain under Alert Level 1 from November 1 to 15

The National Capital Region (NCR) and 72 other areas will remain under Alert Level 1 from November 1 to November 15, the Department of Health (DOH) announced Monday.

In a statement, DOH said that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. approved the new COVID-19 Alert Level System (ALS) classifications for provinces, highly urbanized cities, and independent component cities for the given period.

Based on the recently approved ALS classifications, a total of 89 (74%) out of 121 provinces, highly urbanized cities, and independent component cities and 192 (29%) out of 669 other component cities and municipalities are under Alert Level 1.

LUZON

The entire National Capital Region

Cordillera Administrative Region

• Abra
• Apayao
• Baguio City
• Mountain Province
• Kalinga

Region I

• Dagupan City
• Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur
• La Union
• Pangasinan

Region II

• Batanes
• Cagayan
• City of Santiago
• Isabela
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Quirino

Region III

• Angeles City
• Aurora
• Bataan
• Bulacan
• Nueva Ecija
• Olongapo City
• Pampanga
• Tarlac
• Zambales

Region IV-A

• Batangas
• Cavite
• Laguna
• Lucena City
• Rizal

Region IV-B

• Marinduque
• Occidental Mindoro
• Oriental Mindoro
• Puerto Princesa City
• Romblon

Region V

• Albay
• Camarines Sur
• Catanduanes
• Naga City
• Sorsogon

VISAYAS

Region VI

• Aklan
• Bacolod City
• Capiz
• Guimaras
• Iloilo City
• Iloilo

Region VII

• Cebu City
• Lapu-Lapu City
• Mandaue City
• Siquijor

Region VIII

• Biliran
• Eastern Samar
• Ormoc City
• Southern Leyte
• Tacloban City

MINDANAO

Region IX

• Zamboanga City
• Zamboanga del Norte

Region X

• Bukidnon
• Cagayan de Oro City
• Camiguin
• Iligan City
• Misamis Occidental
• Misamis Oriental

Region XI

• Davao City
• Davao Oriental

Region XII

• General Santos City
• South Cotabato

Region XIII (Caraga)

• Agusan del Norte
• Agusan del Sur
• Butuan City
• Surigao del Sur

BARMM

• Cotabato City

Under Alert Level 1—the lowest in the alert level system—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.

Meanwhile, the following 32 provinces, highly urbanized cities, and independent component cities are under Alert Level 2:

LUZON

Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)

• Benguet
• Ifugao

Region IV-A

• Quezon Province

Region IV-B

• Palawan

Region V

• Camarines Norte
• Masbate

VISAYAS

Region VI

• Antique
• Negros Occidental

Region VII

• Bohol
• Cebu Province
• Negros Oriental

Region VIII

• Leyte
• Northern Samar
• Western Samar

MINDANAO

Region IX

• City of Isabela
• Zamboanga Del Sur
• Zamboanga Sibugay

Region X

• Lanao del Norte

Region XI

• Davao De Oro
• Davao Del Norte
• Davao Del Sur
• Davao Occidental

Region XII

• North Cotabato
• Sarangani
• Sultan Kudarat

Region XIII (Caraga)

• Dinagat Islands
• Surigao del Norte

Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM)

• Basilan
• Lanao Del Sur
• Maguindanao
• Sulu
• Tawi-tawi

Under Alert Level 2, certain establishments and activities are allowed at 50% capacity indoors for fully vaccinated adults (and minors, even if unvaccinated), and 70% capacity outdoors.

With the new ALS, DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said the country’s key indicators, like the healthcare utilization rate (HCUR), “are showing improvements.”

“But while we see a continuous decline in case and admission trends, we must remember that deescalation does not mean that the battle with COVID-19 is already over. These current numbers are not permanent; we must all work together to maintain these low numbers,” she said.

The Health Department also stressed the need for increased vigilance and stricter implementation of measures and policies against COVID-19, especially that the holiday season is coming and mobility and contact rates are expected to rise.

Despite the national government approving the relaxation of the mask mandate in indoor and outdoor spaces, Vergeire called on the local government units to intensify the implementation of strategies and policies against COVID-19 and other diseases, such as vaccination, isolation, distancing, and ventilation.

“Ngayong patuloy nating tinatanggal ang ating mga restrictions upang makatulong sa ating ekonomiya, mas lumalaki ang responsibilidad ng ating mga lokal na pamahalaan na siguruhing mananatiling mababa ang mga kaso sa kanilang mga lugar, lalo na ngayong Undas at paparating na Pasko kung saan inaasahan ang pagdagsa ng mga tao,” she said.

(Now that we continue to remove our restrictions to help our economy, the responsibility of our local governments to make sure that cases remain low in their areas is growing, especially this Undas and the upcoming Christmas where people will gather together.)

Under Executive Order No. 7, signed by Marcos, wearing of face masks indoors and outdoors has become optional amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vergeire reiterated that the public should assess their health risks before removing their masks.

“Bago sabihing ligtas na magtanggal ng mask, isipin natin: Bakunado ba tayo? Marami bang tao kung nasaan tayo? May kasama ba tayong matanda, may sakit, o buntis sa bahay kung sakaling tayo ay mahawa? Lahat po ng iyan ay kailangan tinatanong muna natin sa sarili natin bago tayo magpasya na ligtas ang magtanggal ng mask,” she said.

(Before deciding to remove your mask, ask yourself first: Am I vaccinated? Are there many people where I am? Do I have an elderly, sick, or pregnant companion at home in case I get infected? We should ask ourselves all of that first before we decide that it is safe to remove the mask.)—AOL, GMA News