Downgrade of NCR’s alert level status ‘possible’: Roque

MANILA – Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Monday said there is a big possibility that the current Alert Level 3 status of the National Capital Region (NCR) will be downgraded as the average daily attack rate continues to decrease.

Citing data from the Department of Health (DOH), Roque said the two-week attack rate within Metro Manila is currently at 52 percent, while the average daily attack rate has decreased to 9.87 percent, signaling a possible chance of lowering some restrictions.

The NCR’s current Covid-19 bed utilization rate is now at 39 percent and 48 percent of beds dedicated for intensive care are currently occupied, he added.

“So malaki po ‘yung possibility na bababa tayo ng alert level (So there is a huge possibility that we will downgrade alert level status),” Roque said in his press briefing, noting that the final decision will be made by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).

After recording a significant drop in Covid-19 infections, the IATF-EID has earlier approved the recommendation to place the NCR under Alert Level 3 from Oct. 16 to 31, 2021.

The lowering of restrictions will further allow the reopening of more businesses in the region.

Roque said the final decision on the NCR’s alert level will be tackled during the next IATF-EID meeting on Thursday.