Imposing maximum health restrictions not tackled yet — DILG
INTERIOR and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Ano said imposing lockdowns in areas with high COVID-19 cases to alert level 5 has not yet been discussed by the government’s task force.
Ano said no discussions on the matter have been raised during meetings with vaccination rate against the virus remains high particularly in Metro Manila and areas under alert level 3.
“Wala naman ‘yan sa ating discussions sapagkat hindi pa naman nagme-merit para magkaroon ng lockdown, ” the DILG chief noted.
Metro Manila and adjacent provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal and Laguna are under alert level 3 until Jan. 15 after the COVID-19 cases soared to fearsome levels after the Holiday season when restrictions were eased.
However, Ano said the IATF is looking at the possibility of placing NCR under alert level 4 as recommended by the Department of Health (DOH) but this will be first conferred with the Metro Manila mayors.
Ano stressed that the metrics are not yet enough to warrant upgrading the alert level in NCR to alert level 4.
‘Sa ngayon, ang ating healthcare utilization rate ay hindi pa naman nagme-merit para tayo ay umabot sa alert level 4. Titignan natin sa mga susunod na araw ,’’ he said.
