MANILA – The entire Western Visayas is now under coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Alert Level 3, according to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).
This will be observed up to the end of January unless extended.
“Nakita natin sa mga nakaraang araw na nag-increase exponentially ang mga kaso,” said acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles on Friday during a Malacañang virtual presser.
The latest areas in Region 6 placed under Alert Level 3 were the provinces of Iloilo, Negros Occidental and Guimaras. They were previously under Alert Level 2.
“Tumaas kasi ang movement ng mga tao at bumaba ang compliance sa minimum public health standards,” said Nograles.
The COVID-19 Omicron variant could have contributed, too, to the surge in infections, he added.
Under Alert Level 3, several establishments will be allowed to operate at 30 percent indoor venue capacity only for fully vaccinated individuals, and at 50 percent outdoor venue capacity provided that all employees are fully vaccinated.
Work in government offices, meanwhile, is limited to 60 percent of their onsite capacity.
Face-to-face classes in basic and higher education, contact sports, funfairs/perya, and casinos are among the activities and establishments prohibited under Alert Level 3.
On Jan. 6, Nograles announced that Iloilo City would shift to Alert Level 3 beginning Jan. 9 as recommended by the IATF-EID after the city recorded its first case of the more contagious Omicron COVID-19 variant – a 46-year-old seafarer from Kenya.
Then on Jan. 12, four more areas in Western Visayas were announced to shift to Alert Level 3 by Jan. 14 – Bacolod City, Aklan, Capiz, and Antique.
“Tumama talaga sa mga parameters for Alert Level 3,” Nograles said. “If you look at the numbers, right now nakikita natin ‘yung positivity rate tumataas, and positivity rate translates to more cases. Dumami. Umakyat.”/PN
