MALACAñANG on Monday, February 28, 2022, thanked the public as the National Capital Region (NCR), along with 38 other areas, transitions to Alert Level 1 on Tuesday, March 1, 2022.
“Bukas, a-uno ng Marso 2022, ay ang siyang unang araw ng implementasyon ng Alert Level 1 sa Metro Manila at sa tatlumpu’t walo (38) pang mga lugar sa Pilipinas. Sa mga lugar na nasa Alert Level 1, salamat po sa inyong kooperasyon at pagsunod sa minimum public health standards, pakikipag-bayanihan para makapagpabakuna o magpa-booster at sa mga sakripisyo na inyong inialay malampasan lamang natin itong pandemya. Nakarating po tayo dito dahil sa inyong lahat,” said Acting Presidential Spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles in a press briefing.
Sec. Nograles, who is the concurrent Co-Chair of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), mentioned that four conditions must be met before an area can be de-escalated to Alert Level 1. These include minimal to low-risk classification, less than 50% total bed utilization rate, 70% fully vaccinated individuals in the area’s target population and 80% fully vaccinated in the area’s target A2 population.
The Cabinet official reminded the public to be responsible while restrictions are being relaxed in areas under Alert Level 1, adding that reduced restrictions would contribute to more livelihood opportunities and better incomes.
“Tagumpay mang maituturing ang ating pagsampa sa Alert Level 1, hindi pa panahon para magdiwang. Kailangan pa rin po nating maging responsable sa ating sarili, sa ating pamilya at sa ating komunidad. Bagama’t ating naaagapan, nasa gitna pa rin natin ang banta ng COVID-19,” Nograles pointed out.
The Cabinet official underscored to keep everyone safe in Alert Level 1, the public must continue to properly wear face masks all the time, get vaccinated or booster shots and stay in areas with good ventilation.
The same stance was reiterated by Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, a resource person during the same press briefing, when she stressed that being in Alert Level 1 does not mean the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, saying that COVID-19 cases may still rise and hospital utilization may still increase in Alert Level 1 areas. Government is, thus, prepared by keeping its safeguards to manage the effects of COVID-19, Vergeire added.
