ILOILO City – This southern city and the province of Iloilo are now on Alert Level 4 as far as severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) incidence is concerned, based on the new alert level classification issued by the Department of Health (DOH).
The alert levels – from one to four with four as the highest – “will give us triggers kung ano ‘yung mga kailangan gawin at ano ang mga flagged areas natin,” said Health undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire in an online briefing on Friday.
An area will be classified based on its coronavirus case transmission, healthcare utilization rate (HCUR) and the presence of the more transmissible Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
Vergeire said DOH devised the new four-tier alert system as there are areas that have surging coronavirus cases but low HCUR or the other way around.
“For us to give appropriate signals, ginawa natin itong alert levels,” she said.
ALERT LEVEL 4
Iloilo city and province were placed on the highest alert. What does that mean?
According to Vergeire, areas under Alert Level 4 are those with case count that are high and/or increasing plus high HCUR, regardless of the presence of the Delta variant.
For an area to be deemed under the highest level it must have a risk classification of “moderate” to “critical”, and more than 70 percent occupancy of its dedicated hospital beds for COVID-19 patients, regardless of Delta variant presence.
“We are in a crisis at kailangan po natin ng agarang desisyon at agarang aksyon galing sa gobyerno,” Vergeire said.
What are the possible interventions should an area be placed under Alert Level 4?
According to the DOH, action points could be:
* granular lockdowns
* active case finding (for areas with local Delta variant cases, rapid antigen test can be utilized)
* expand hospital bed capacity, especially intensive care unit (ICU) beds of levels 2 and 3 hospitals; oxygen needs must also be sufficient; severe and critical cases are also immediately and properly referred
ALERT LEVEL 3
For Alert Level 3, these areas are with high and/or increasing COVID-19 case count but increasing HCUR, regardless of the “Delta” presence.
It fulfills all the following conditions:
* risk classification ranges from “moderate” to “critical”
* less than or equal to 70 percent occupancy of its dedicated hospital beds for COVID-19 patients, regardless of Delta variant presence
Aklan, Antique, Bacolod City and Capiz are under this level.
ALERT LEVEL 2
Alert Level 2 is defined as areas with:
– case transmission is low and decreasing, low HCUR but with presence of the Delta variant; or
– case count is low but increasing; or
– case count is low and decreasing but HCUR is increasing
It fulfills any of the following conditions:
* “minimal” to “low” risk classification, with negative growth rate; COVID-19 bed and ICU utilization must be less than 50 percent; and with reported local Delta variant case/s; or
* “minimal” to “low” risk classification, with positive growth rate; or
* “minimal” to “low” risk, with negative growth rate and COVID-19 beds and ICU utilization must be greater than or equal to 50 percent
Guimaras and Negros Occidental are under this level.
ALERT LEVEL 1
On the other hand, areas under Alert Level 1 are those with low and decreasing case transmission, low HCUR and no reported case of the Delta variant.
For an area to be classified under this level, it must fulfill all the following conditions:
* “minimal” to “low” risk, with negative growth rate
* COVID-19 bed utilization and ICU utilization must be less than 50 percent
* no local case of Delta variant detected
In the National Capital Region, areas under Alert Level 4 are Quezon City, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Taguig, Makati, Malabon, San Juan, and Pateros.
Also under Alert Level 4 are Apayao, Baguio City, Benguet (Cordillera Administrative Region); Ilocos Norte (Region 1); Cagayan, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino (Region 2); Angeles City, Bataan, Olongapo City, Pampanga, Tarlac (Region 3); Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Lucena City (Region 4A); Cebu, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City (Region 7); Tacloban City (Region 8); Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro City, Camiguin (Region 10); Davao City (Region 11); General Santos City (Region 12)./PN
