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| Biliran, Eastern Samar, Ormoc City, Southern Leyte, and Tacloban City are now under COVID-19 Alert Level 1, while Leyte, Northern, Samar, and Western Samar are under Alert Level 2. Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons |
TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Health (DOH) declared 89 areas in the Philippines under COVID-19 Alert Level 1 from November 1 to November 15, including Tacloban City.
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. approved the new COVID-19 Alert Level System (ALS) classifications of provinces, highly urbanized cities, and independent component cities from November 1 to 15, according to a DOH statement.
Meanwhile, DOH added that 32 out of 121 provinces, highly urbanized cities, and independent component cities were placed on Alert Level 2.
Alert Level 1 areas allow intrazonal and interzonal travel with no restrictions based on age or comorbidities.
All establishments, persons, or activities are permitted to operate, work, or be carried out at full on-site or venue/seating capacity, as long as they adhere to minimum public health standards.
Meanwhile, areas under Alert Level 2 are now required to implement restrictions such as a 50% capacity indoors for fully vaccinated adults and a 70% capacity outdoors.
The following are the areas classified as Alert Level 2 and Alert Level 1:
Alert Level 1:
LUZON
National Capital Region (NCR)
Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR):
Abra
Apayao
Baguio City
Mountain Province
Kalinga
Region I:
Dagupan City
Ilocos Norte
Ilocos Sur
La Union
Pangasinan
Region II:
Batanes
Cagayan
City of Santiago
Isabela
Nueva Vizcaya
Quirino
Region III:
Angeles City
Aurora
Bataan
Bulacan
Nueva Ecija
Olongapo City
Pampanga
Tarlac
Zambales
Region IV-A:
Batangas
Cavite
Laguna
Lucena City
Rizal
Region IV-B:
Marinduque
Occidental Mindoro
Oriental Mindoro
Puerto Princesa City
Romblon
Region V:
Albay
Camarines Sur
Catanduanes
Naga City
Sorsogon
VISAYAS
Region VI
Aklan
Bacolod City
Capiz
Guimaras
Iloilo City
Iloilo
Region VII
Cebu City
Lapu-Lapu City
Mandaue City
Siquijor
Region VIII
Biliran
Eastern Samar
Ormoc City
Southern Leyte
Tacloban City
MINDANAO
Region IX:
Zamboanga City
Zamboanga del Norte
Region X:
Bukidnon
Cagayan de Oro City
Camiguin
Iligan City
Misamis Occidental
Misamis Oriental
Region XI:
Davao City
Davao Oriental
Region XII:
General Santos City
South Cotabato
Region XIII (Caraga):
Agusan del Norte
Agusan del Sur
Butuan City
Surigao del Sur
BARMM:
Cotabato City
Alert Level 2:
LUZON:
Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)
Benguet
Ifugao
Region IV-A:
Quezon Province
Region IV-B:
Palawan
Region V:
Camarines Norte
Masbate
VISAYAS
Region VI:
Antique
Negros Occidental
Region VII:
Bohol
Cebu Province
Negros Oriental
Region VIII:
Leyte
Northern Samar
Western Samar
MINDANAO
Region IX:
City of Isabela
Zamboanga Del Sur
Zamboanga Sibugay
Region X:
Lanao del Norte
Region XI:
Davao De Oro
Davao Del Norte
Davao Del Sur
Davao Occidental
Region XII:
North Cotabato
Sarangani
Sultan Kudarat
Region XIII (Caraga):
Dinagat Islands
Surigao del Norte
BARMM:
Basilan
Lanao Del Sur
Maguindanao
Sulu
Tawi-tawi
According to DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire, the new alert level system classifications demonstrate that the country is "showing improvements" in key indicators such as healthcare utilization rate.
She then urged the public to be more vigilant, emphasizing the importance of stricter implementation of COVID-19 measures and policies, particularly as the holiday season approaches and increased mobility and contact rates are expected.