More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government.
As COVID-19 cases continue to decrease the nation is getting ready to go to Alert Level 1. Of course that means more cops!
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1558948/pnp-gets-ready-in-case-of-lower-alert-level-in-metro-manila |
Police in Metro Manila are getting ready in case its COVID-19 status gets lowered from its current Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 1.
Gen. Dionardo Carlos, the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), ordered the preparations to ensure that health safety protocols would still be followed, according to a statement that the PNP issued on Wednesday.
“With more people outside, the need for more intensified police visibility is imperative,” Carlos said. “Thus, the public can expect that police personnel will continue to monitor the flow of people to remind them of the health protocols.”
Downgrading the alert level is just a transition for the new normal set-up, Carlos said.
“The most lenient Alert Level 1 will open prospects for more economic activities by lifting some restrictions on venue capacities, but the minimum public health standard is still in effect,” he warned.
He stressed the importance of keeping the protocols in place, regardless of the alert level.
There is no way getting around the authoritarianism. COVID-19 could disappear tonight and the PNP would still be out enforcing health protocols. It might be a while before the shift to alert level one.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1558965/lgus-must-vaccinate-80-of-seniors-to-be-on-alert-level-1 |
Pandemic task force officials have added two new conditions before local government units (LGUs) can move to Alert Level 1, the most relaxed quarantine restriction that the government considers the “new normal.”
Local governments must ensure that at least 80 percent of senior citizens and that 70 percent of the eligible population in their communities have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before they can transition to Alert Level 1.
The added requirements were announced by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and National Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTF) chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. in a televised meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte aired on Monday night.
“If (LGUs) cannot achieve all these metrics, then we cannot let them be placed under alert level 1,” Duque said, noting that the suggestion came from NTF deputy chief implementer and testing czar Secretary Vince Dizon.
Cebu has decided to not wait around and has lifted all major COVID restrictions.
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| https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/426711/cebu-city-removes-major-covid-19-restrictions |
Cebu City is now “open” to all with only minimal COVID-19 restrictions left in the city.
Mayor Michael Rama signed during the celebration of Cebu City’s 85th Charter Day on Thursday, February 24, 2022, his new Executive Order (EO) titled Oplan Kagawasan, which would open Cebu City again almost to a pre-pandemic state.
In EO 163, the mayor argued that the city’s vaccination program had earned the top spot for the most number of inoculations during the national vaccination days that paved the way to the vaccination of more than 70 percent of the city’s vulnerable class target population.
In his speech for the Cebu City 85th Charter Day Celebrations, Rama said Oplan Kagawasan represents the future of Cebu City, moving forward from the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the EO, all establishments, persons, and activities shall be permitted to operate, work, or be undertaken regardless of age and vaccination status of persons.
This is provided that minimum public health standards shall be strictly observed at all times including wearing of face masks, regular sanitation, proper coughing and sneezing etiquettes, and staying at home when sick.
In a press conference shortly after the Charter Day celebrations, Rama said that even inbound unvaccinated domestic travelers entering the city through its seaports will be allowed to enter without the need for negative COVID-19 test results.
It would seem face masks are never going away. And why should they? If they are really effective at stopping the spread of disease then why not always wear one? But they are not effective and so the pandemic rages on despite this precaution.
At least three towns have been declared COVID free.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1558877/san-felipe-town-in-zambales-now-covid-free |
One of the 13 towns in this province now has zero active COVID-19 cases, according to the latest tally of the provincial health office on Wednesday (Feb. 23)
The remaining lone virus-infected patient in San Felipe town has already recovered from the viral disease, it said.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1559839/2-tarlac-towns-now-free-of-covid-19 |
Two of Tarlac province’s 17 towns are now free of COVID-19, the provincial government disclosed on Thursday, Feb. 24.
Mayantoc and Ramos had a single active COVID-19 case each on Wednesday. But the next day, both patients in these towns recovered from the viral disease.
Can we expect the same for other provincial towns?
Normalcy is returning very slowly. Airlines are now adding more flights to their schedules.
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| https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/serbisyopubliko/transportation/823158/local-airlines-ramp-up-flight-frequencies/story/ |
Local carriers Cebu Pacific, AirAsia Philippines, and Philippine Airlines have increased their flight frequencies as the government relaxed protocols for air travelers and opened the country’s borders to foreign visitors.
Interviewed on Dobol B TV on Saturday, Cebu Pacific spokesperson Carmina Reyes-Romero said the low-cost airline increased its flight frequencies to Boracay Island to 15 times daily, exceeding its pre-pandemic level.
“Flights to Dumaguete are 10 times weekly; for Cebu, it's 11 times daily, while Cagayan de Oro flights are seven times daily and Bohol are three times daily,” Romero said.
In a separate interview on Dobol B TV, AirAsia Philippines spokesperson Steve Dailisan said the budget carrier will double its flights next month and will soon resume flights to its regional destinations.
For her part, PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said the flag carrier is operating six flights daily between Manila and Caticlan, and three times daily between Cebu and Caticlan.
This is good news for tourism. The DOT is very optimistic about tourism growth as several areas are transitioning to alert level one. Alert level one comes with many rules which still must be followed. The most egregious rule being that those 18 and older will have to show proof of full vaccination in order to participate in certain events.
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| https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/28/22/masks-vax-proof-full-capacity-rules-for-new-normal |
The Palace official said individuals 18 years old and above will be required to present proof of full vaccination before participating in mass gatherings or entry into indoor establishments.
- In-person religious gatherings; gatherings for necrological services, wakes, inurnment and funerals for those who died of causes other than COVID-19 and for the cremains of the COVID-19 deceased
- All indoor dine-in services of food preparation establishments such as kiosks, commissaries, restaurants and eateries. For outdoor or al fresco dining and take out channels, no proof of full vaccination is required
- Indoor personal care establishments such as barbershops, hair spas, hair salons, and nail spas, and those offering aesthetic or cosmetic services or procedures, make-up services, salons, spas, reflexology and other similar procedures including home service options
- Fitness studios, gyms and venues for exercise and sports
- All indoor cinemas or movie houses operating at full capacity
- Meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibition events and permitted venues for social events such as parties, wedding receptions, engagement parties, wedding anniversaries, debut and birthday parties, family reunions, and bridal or baby showers
- Venues with live voice or wind-instrument performers and audiences such as in karaoke bars, clubs, concert halls and theaters
- Indoor ancillary establishments in hotels and other accommodation establishments
- Venues for election-related events
This practically makes the vaccine mandatory.
Health protocols remain in place under alert level 1 but there are no more quarantines for vaccinated asymptomatic individuals.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1168757 |
Persons who are asymptomatic and have been fully-vaccinated against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are no longer required to undergo quarantine should they be exposed to a COVID-19 positive individuals, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Tuesday, March 1.
“(If you are asymptomatic, which means you have no symptoms, and you are a close-contact of a COVID positive individual but you are fully-vaccinated, there is no need or zero days for quarantine),” she explained.
But she reminded that these individuals would still need to monitor themselves and should they feel any symptoms, they should immediately isolate themselves, call their local government, so they can be guided on what they need to do.
Infectious disease expert Dr. Edsel Salvana said that there were two reasons why they decided to remove the quarantine requirement for those who were exposed to positive individuals.
“(First of all, under Alert Level 1, the number of people who are infected with COVID-19 is very low. So the overall picture is that, that risk is very low as well),” he said.
“(Second is if we’re vaccinated, the chance of infecting others or if the virus manges to get through and we infect others is low, and on top of that under Alert Level 1, the vaccination level is high),” he added.
Salvano also stated that it’s been hard for others who need to report to work physically to isolate or quarantine themselves since they will not get paid if they don’t do so.
He explained that the rationale of this move is that the risk has gotten much lower and that there is a safety margin especially if someone is vaccinated against COVID-19 and that there is a high level of vaccination in the community.
It appears that the pandemic is over finally. The DOH has even indicated as much in their new guidelines for reporting on cases.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1168789 |
The reporting of new coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases will be done weekly starting March 7 and will focus on the severe and critical cases, a health official said Tuesday.
This was after the National Capital Region and 38 other areas shifted to the most relaxed Alert Level 1 from March 1 to 15.
In a Palace briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the weekly case bulletins would be released every Monday at 4 p.m. and additional timely updates would be provided when necessary.
“As to the case numbers, if it’s mild, we treat it like it’s part of our lives. We live with the virus, we focus on the critical,” she said.
"We live with the virus." Finally the DOH is making sense.
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