This Week in Metro Manila (February 19 to 25, 2022)

The Malacañang announced the alert level status of Metro Manila last February 14. The National Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) announced that Metro Manila will remain under Alert Level 2 until the end of February [1]. In addition to this Alert Level 2 announcement, seven areas will be under Alert Level 3: Davao de Oro, Davao Occidental, Guimaras, Iloilo City and province, South Cotabato, Zamboanga City.

The Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said that Metro Manila returned to the low-risk classification for COVID-19 infections [2]. According to Duque, last February 14, Metro Manila had an average daily attack rate of 6.37 per 100,000 population. The cause of the low-risk classification in Metro Manila is due to the organized management of health care systems for COVID-19 cases. Due to the low risk, Metro Manila is now back to Alert Level 2–and soon might be Alert Level 1.

After two years in lockdown, the Philippines have reopened its borders to fully vaxxed foreign leisure tourists, as travel restrictions were loosened by the Department of Tourism (DOT) during Alert Level 2.

About 398 fully vaxxed foreign tourists arrived in the country—with the majority from the United States and Thailand [3]. DOT furthered that a counter at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) will cater to foreign tourists. DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat also reiterated that safety standards and protocols would remain for all alert levels. Travelers must present outbound tickets, proof of vaccination, and a negative RT-PCR test was taken within 48 hours before departure.

The IATF has reported that over 9 million minors have already received their complete COVID-19 vaccine, including children ages 5 to 11. Among these fully vaxxed minors, there are no severe recorded side effects for the age group. Only 1% of fully vaxxed children’s common side effects like headache, mild fever, itchiness, and soreness on injected arms were recorded.

Vaccination of the youngest minors began last February 7 in areas under various alert levels. Fully vaxxed children can attend physical classes and comply with travel restrictions in Metro Manila and other areas under Alert Level 2 and the likes [4].

Health secretary Duque hopes that this news will alleviate the doubts and worries of parents.

Visit Yoorekka Magazine for more travel and COVID-19 updates and guidelines in Metro Manila!