Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 28) — The full effect of the new COVID-19 alert level system in areas outside Metro Manila could be seen in one to two weeks, but early signs suggest it is working in some localities, according to a Department of Health (DOH) official.
“Mayroon pong mga areas na nakakakita ng improvements in their case data and [healthcare] utilization data subalit nakakaisang linggo pa lamang tayo,” DOH chief epidemiologist Alethea De Guzman said in a Laging Handa briefing Thursday.
[Translation: There are areas seeing improvements in their case and healthcare utilization data, but we have just been implementing this for a week.]
“Mas maganda pong balikan kung ano ang naging epekto nitong policy shift sa mga areas na in-expand natin ang pilot makaraan siguro ng isa o dalawang linggo,” she added.
[Translation: It is better if we look at the effects of the policy shift in areas included in the expanded pilot run after one to two weeks.]
Nineteen areas outside Metro Manila shifted to the alert level system on Oct. 20.
In the National Capital Region (NCR), De Guzman said the scheme was able to shorten the period between case detection and isolation to two days.
She said members of the Inter-Agency Task Force will discuss in their future meetings whether NCR can already ease to a lower alert level next month.
Metro Manila is under Alert Level 3 until the end of October.
While new cases and healthcare utilization are decreasing, Metro Manila remains at moderate risk for COVID-19 as its average daily attack rate – or the number of infected people per 100,000 population – is still high at 7.35.
