Philippines Relaxes Anti-COVID Measures as Cases Diminish

People wait to ride a bus going to provinces at a bus terminal in Paranaque City, Metro Manila, Philippines, on Dec. 30, 2021. (Lisa Marie David/Reuters)

The Philippines government has placed the capital Manila and 38 other areas under the country’s least restrictive COVID-19 alert level, following a decline in the number of infections, a government official said on Monday.

Karlo Nograles, the acting spokesman for President Rodrigo Duterte, said in a statement that alert level 1 will be in force for at least two weeks, from March 1 to March 15.

Public transportation and business establishments are now allowed to operate at full capacity under alert level 1, without being required to set up isolation facilities within the workplace.

“Isolation can be discontinued upon completion of the recommended isolation period, provided that they do not have fever for at least 24 hours without the use of any antipyretic medications, and shall have improvement of respiratory signs and symptoms,” Nograles said in a separate statement.

People will still need to wear masks in public, except when participating in sports or exercising where physical distance can be maintained, he added.

Individuals age 18 and above will be required to present proof of full vaccination before participating in mass gatherings or entering indoor establishments, such as cinemas, conferences, wedding receptions, karaoke bars, and others.

Temperature checks and contact tracing will not be necessary for all the agencies and establishments in areas under alert level 1, Nograles said.

The Phillippines recorded 951 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, the first time that the number of new infections fell below 1,000 since December last year.

A policeman on a bus in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, on Aug. 6, 2021. (Eloisa Lopez/Reuters)

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergerie on Monday urged citizens to maintain self-regulation, noting that tougher measures may be reimposed if infection rates increase.

“We have not yet reached the endemic state. We are now at a level where we are still transitioning to our desired new normal,” Vergeire said.

She noted that the government is considering a monthly mass COVID-19 vaccination program, as many residents have not yet had their booster injections, The Philippine Star reported.

“So now we will expand the vaccination and will try to reach far-flung areas or those without access to health services. We are looking into whether it will be possible to have a monthly [national COVID-19],” Vergeire said.

Earlier this year, the government imposed a “no vaccine, no ride” policy on public transportation in the capital region, after Duterte ordered the arrest of unvaccinated individuals who violate stay-at-home orders. The “no vaccine, no ride” policy was lifted when Manila was placed on alert level 2 on Feb. 1.