INFECTIOUS disease expert Rontgene Solante yesterday said it is time for the government to lift the emergency coronavirus disease (COVID-19) status amid the steady low number of active cases and high number of fully vaccinated individuals in the country.
Solante, during the Laging Handa public briefing, however, said removing the country’s emergency status would depend on the assessment and decision of the World Health Organization (WHO).
“Sa pag-uusap namin sa mga ibang eksperto rin, I think it’s high time na talagang pwede na nating tanggalin ang emergency na label ng COVID-19 because of the persistent and sustained number of cases na talagang mababa na (In my discussion with various experts, I think it’s high time, we can already remove the emergency label of COVID-19 because of the persistent and sustained number of cases that are already low),” he said.
He acknowledged that removing the status does not mean that the pandemic is already over.
Besides, Solante said there are sufficient vaccines and antiviral medicines available that can be used to keep COVID-19 infections down.
“So, I think there’s a possibility, hopefully. We will wait for the WHO because we are dependent on the WHO,” Solante said.
Solante noted that there had been an uptick in cases, this has been limited to only 200 per day.
He reiterated he does not expect the cases to go up to the level of COVID cases in January to February this year.
Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Jose Ma. “Joey” Concepcion III last week said the government should start easing out of a public health emergency status and begin streamlining restrictions to speed up the economic recovery.
Concepcion said the government should now have a standardized set of restrictions, which include requiring masks in common areas and a fully vaccinated status for indoor establishments.
