THE Department of Health (DOH) yesterday said the government has not reimposed the mandatory use of face masks in Metro Manila despite the rising number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the capital region.
In a public advisory, the DOH said belied what it said was “false” information stating that face masks are again required in the National Capital Region.
“At present, Metro Manila is still under Alert Level 1, which means restrictions remain to be in the status quo,” the health department said, adding: “The DOH continues to remind the public to be mindful of the information we share and source information from reputable sources.”
The DOH was referring to circulating information online stating that face masks must again be worn at all times in the region, both indoors and outdoors, private and public establishments, and in public transportation.
The information spread in social media platforms after the latest Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) resolution showed the Metro Manila was still under Alert Level 1.
Alert Level 1 was the lowest of the Alert Level System adopted by the government during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under the guidelines for Alert Level 1 issued in February 2022, public transportation and business establishments are allowed to operate at 100 percent capacity, and the wearing of masks is required. There is no more contact tracing, although proof of vaccination is required.
The DOH said there was no truth to the online posts.
It, however, reminded the public of the existing policy providing that the wearing of face masks in indoor and outdoor settings shall be voluntary, except in healthcare facilities, medical transport, and public transportation by land, air, or sea.
It added that local government units are authorized to implement related policies in their respective areas.
“Local government units have the jurisdiction to require certain health protocols in their communities through a local ordinance,” said the DOH, citing reports that the city government of Manila is reviewing its policy on the use of face masks after the observed surge in COVID-19 cases.
Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion said alert levels are no longer necessary now that Filipinos have learned to live with COVID.
“The question we should be asking is why are we still implementing this alert level system when we are no longer under a state of public health emergency?” he said.
“We don’t have alert level systems for when there are a lot of dengue cases. We warn the public and increase awareness so that they will be more careful,” he also said.
“At this point we cannot afford any lockdowns or loss of confidence among our consumers.
We need more mobility and spending if we want to see our GDP move higher. We have to remember that it is the economy that is at a higher risk now,” he stressed.
‘ARCTURUS’
Meanwhile, the DOH yesterday sought to appease public concern and said that the “Arcturus” variant or the XBB.1.16 Omicron sublineage of COVID-19 carry low risk to individuals.
In a brief statement, the DOH said the public must not be alarmed over the presence of the subvariant in the country even amid reports that it has the ability to evade immunity and is said to be more transmissible.
“Based on the latest risk assessment by the World Health Organization (WHO) last April 17, 2023, no changes in severity have been reported in countries, where XBB.1.16. are reported to be circulating,” said the DOH.
“There may have been slight increases in bed occupancy in India and Indonesia, but levels are still much lower compared to the effects of the previous variants. Overall, risk assessment is said to be low,” it also said.
This was seconded in a separate report by the DOH regarding the XBB.1.16, which has been detected in 33 countries or jurisdictions across six continents.
“Currently available evidence for XBB.1.16 does not suggest any differences in disease severity and/or clinical manifestations compared to the original Omicron variant,” said the DOH.
On late Tuesday, the DOH released the genome sequencing results for the period of April 12 to 17, wherein one case of the XBB.1.16 was detected in the country.
The case was detected in Western Visayas, particularly in Iloilo.
“The detected XBB.1.16 case in Iloilo province was asymptomatic and has already recovered,” said the DOH.
It said symptoms of the XBB.1.16 include fever, cough, fatigue, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, headache, body pain, and diarrhea.
Asked if the Arcturus has “sticky eyes” or conjunctivitis as an additional symptom, the DOH said it remains uncertain.
“At present, the WHO has yet to confirm symptoms of the Omicron sublineage XBB.1.1.6 variant such as sticky eyes or conjunctivitis,” said the DOH.
Including the XBB.1.16 sample, the latest genome sequencing results detected 85 cases of other Omicron subvariants.
This includes 39 samples classified as XBB, including 13 XBB.1.5 cases, 14 XBB.1.9.1 cases, and the 1 XBB.1.16 case.
The DOH said 28 cases of the BA.2.3.20 were also detected in the latest sequenced samples, 12 cases of BA.5, including 2 BQ.1 samples; three samples as XBC subvariants and three tagged as “other Omicron sublineages.”
Despite the low risk posed by the Arcturus, the health department called on the public anew to maintain their layers of protection against COVID-19.
This, it said, include wearing masks, isolating when sick, and ensuring good airflow especially when mobile in public places.
“Most importantly, the public is advised to get vaccinated and boosted as vaccination remains to be the most effective and best long-term protection against the COVID-19 virus,” added the DOH.
