MANILA – Some areas in Western Visayas may soon transition to the “new normal.”
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) approved “in principle” the declaration of the quarantine classification next month.
“Binubuo po ngayon ‘yung mga ‘Dos and Don’ts’ sa new normal,” said presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.
All areas in Western Visayas are currently under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), the government’s most lenient quarantine classification and the next phase before the new normal.
According to Roque, only provinces and cities without coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission would be further downgraded.
“Lilinawin natin iyong mga dos and don’ts sa mga new normal areas. Kasi baka magkaroon ng new normal, bigla silang magkaroon ng rock concert,” Roque said.
The new normal classification used to be the fifth and lowest quarantine classification until the IATF-EID removed it in June last year. Under the new normal, travel and business restrictions are lifted provided that minimum health standards are observed.
The government imposed lockdowns over the entire region in mid-March of 2020 and had since been relaxed to pave the way for the reopening of the pandemic-hit economy.
As of Thursday, Western Visayas’ cumulative cases of COVID-19 hit 22,544 since recording started in March last year.
But with 20,967 cases having recovered and 688 deaths, the region’s active cases currently stand at 883.
The province of Iloilo has the most number of active cases at 252.
Iloilo City came in next with 193 cases, followed by Negros Occidental (163); Bacolod City (117); Aklan (93); Capiz (38); Antique (20); and Guimaras (seven).
As to the classification of the active cases, 70.78 percent are asymptomatic, 22.88 percent are mild, and 6.34 percent are severe.
Dr. Marie Jocelyn Te of DOH-6 earlier said the region’s cases are no longer that high.
She, however, urged the public to never be complacent and continue practicing health protocols such as wearing facemask and face shields, sanitizing hands through frequent hand washing or use of alcohol, maintaining safe physical distancing, and acting based on correct information./PN
