METRO Manila will remain under Alert Level 1 from July 1 to 15 despite the gradual increase in daily coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the region, acting presidential spokesman Martin Andanar announced yesterday.
Andanar said the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) approved the recommendation to retain Alert Level 1 in the National Capital Region and other areas in the country based on a new matrix used by its sub-Technical Working Group for Data Analytics for the determination of the alert classification of provinces, highly urbanized cities, independent component cities, component cities, and municipalities.
Under the new matrix, the IATF will no longer use the two-week COVID growth rate as a factor in determining case-risk classification.
Andanar said alert levels will now be determined based on cross tabulation of total bed utilization rate and the average daily attack rate.
He also said hospital bed utilization rate and its current thresholds will be retained as a barometer for the health system capacity.
Previous risk classifications were determined based on the two-week growth rate, the average daily attack rate, and hospital utilization rate.
Independent monitoring group OCTA Research on Monday said that COVID-19 positivity rate in the NCR reached 5.9 percent on June 25 from 3.9 percent on June 18.
Aside from Metro Manila, the other areas to remain under Alert Level 1 include Abra, Apayao, Baguio City, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Dagupan City, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, Batanes, Cagayan, Santiago City, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Angeles City, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Olongapo City, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Lucena City, Rizal province, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, Puerto Princes City, and Romblon.
Albay, Catanduanes, Naga City, Sorsogon, Aklan, Bacolod City, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Iloilo City, Cebu City, Lapu-lapu City, Mandaue City, Siquijor, Biliran, Eastern Samar, Ormoc City, Southern Leyte, Tacloban City, Zamboanga City, Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro City, Camiguin, Iligan City, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Davao City, Davao Oriental, Butuan City, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, and Cotabato City, among others.
On the other hand, the following areas will be under Alert Level 2: Benguet and Ifugao, Quezon Province, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Antique, Negros Occidental, Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Leyte, Northern Samar, and Samar (Western Samar), City of Isabela, Zamboanga Del Norte, Zamboanga Del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Lanao Del Norte, Davao De Oro, Davao Del Norte, Davao Del Sur, Davao Occidental, Cotabato (North Cotabato), General Santos City (Dadiangas), Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, Dinagat Islands, Surigao Del Norte, Basilan, Lanao Del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.
