Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Philippines maintains Covid rules amid hopes ‘new normal’ starts soon

Philippines maintains Covid rules amid hopes ‘new normal’ starts soon

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
People queueing for coronavirus swab tests in Manila on January 7. STR/AFP

Philippines maintains Covid rules amid hopes ‘new normal’ starts soon

The Philippines is keeping current quarantine curbs in its capital till the end of February, as it focuses on ramping up vaccinations to move closer to a “new normal” that will see the further easing of restrictions.

Metro Manila – an urban sprawl of 16 cities and home to over 13 million people – will remain under alert level 2, the second least restrictive in a scale of 1 to 4. Most of the country is also now under level 2.

This follows a recommendation by Metro Manila’s mayors that fall in line with advice from medical experts who say it is too soon to raise the alert to level 1.

Under level 1, most businesses will be allowed to operate at full capacity, including restaurants, cafes, bars, hotels, salons and other service firms.

Churches will also be allowed to fill up their pews, and thousands of schools can resume in-person classes.

Offices may start to see the return of staff after two years of working from home.

“While the [data is] truly encouraging and manifest an improving Covid-19 situation in [Metro Manila], there is an urgent need to further await an improvement in the risk classifications of the 12 [local government units] presently under moderate risk classification,” the mayors said in a statement on February 14.

They said level 2 should be maintained to preserve health and the economic gains of recent weeks.

The health ministry recorded fewer than 5,000 new cases across the nation for a sixth straight day on February 14. This was sharply down from up to 40,000 at the height of a surge fuelled by the less deadly but highly transmissible Omicron variant just a month ago.

Infections in Metro Manila have plunged to fewer than 500 from as high as 11,000 last month.

The ministry reported 2,730 new cases on February 14, the lowest it has been so far this year.

The Philippines last week reopened its borders to all tourists who have received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine and recorded a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test result prior to arrival in Manila.

The health ministry has said it wants to see 70 per cent of the Philippines’ total population of some 110 million fully vaccinated with two doses first before it will recommend easing rules to alert level 1, which it has said will be the “new normal”.

The national vaccination rate now is at 55 per cent.

Metro Manila’s rate is already at over 68 per cent, but a senior health official said the government wants the percentage of the population infected brought down to seven for every 100,000, from the current 10.5.

Philippine Medical Association president Benito Atienza said vaccination among senior citizens, immunocompromised people, and children aged five to 11 needed to be ramped up.

Dr Rajendra Yadav, acting Philippine representative of the World Health Organisation, agreed that “the worst is over for now” for the Philippines.

“But that’s only for now, because we do not know how long this current favourable situation will last. We need to hope for the best but remain prepared for the worst,” he said.

THE STRAITS TIMES (SINGAPORE)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

MOST VIEWED

  • Five-year-old Hanuman dances his way into hearts of Cambodia

    A young talent from a new-established settlement has emerged, captivating the online world with his mesmerising performances of the traditional Cambodian monkey dance. Roeun Kakada is a five-year-old prodigy who has taken the social media sphere by storm with his exceptional dance skills and dedication

  • Fresh Covid warnings as Thai hospital fills

    A senior health official reminds the public to remain vigilant, as neighbouring countries experience an increase in Covid-19 cases, with the latest surge appearing to be a result of the Omicron XBB.1.5 sub-variant. Or Vandine, secretary of state and spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health,

  • Honda shutters Siem Reap football club

    Japanese football legend Keisuke Honda, the owner of Siem Reap football club Soltilo Angkor FC, has been forced to shut the club down, after it failed to attract sponsorship for the upcoming season. Honda, the former manager of the Cambodia men's national football team, said

  • Hun Sen warns of regional tensions

    ASIA is becoming a dangerous geopolitical hotspot, with several countries announcing that they intend to send naval vessels towards Southeast Asia and on to the South China Sea, warned Prime Minister Hun Sen. “Heated geopolitical issues can easily escalate, namely to war. I am not

  • PM declares ASEAN Para Games open

    The 12th ASEAN Para Games officially kicked off on the evening of June 3 at Morodok Techo National Stadium in Phnom Penh, with a spectacular opening ceremony featuring fireworks and performances by some of the Kingdom’s most accomplished talents. Tens of thousands of sports fans

  • Waterway job still pending for Kampot tourism port’s opening

    The search is still on for a contractor to expand and deepen the Kampot International Tourism Port’s waterway and deliver additional enhancements allowing safe access for larger vessels, nearly a year after the main construction work on the 4.25ha site was completed on June 30, 2022.