IATF amends alert level classification metrics

CEBU, Philippines —  The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) made some revisions of the metrics in determining alert level classifications of provinces, highly-urbanized and independent component cities in the country.

Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, chief pathologist of the Department of Health in Central Visayas and spokesperson of the Visayas Vaccination Operations Center, was happy of the revisions because it paved the way for all areas in the country to be under alert level 2.

Earlier, Loreche reacted against the DOH pronouncement on the possible escalation of alert level classification of Lapu-Lapu City despite the dwindling COVID-19 cases in the city.

“Upon the recommendations of the Sub-Technical Working Group on Data Analytics, matrix for determining alert level classifications have been amended” effective immediately via IATF resolution 152.

The alert level metrics determined by the sTWG on Data Analytics continues to use the cross-tabulation of case classification and total COVID-19 beds utilization. The one-week growth rate as a metric for escalation from alert level 1 to alert level 2 has been removed. Instead, they now monitor its two-week growth rate.

Areas under alert level 1 may be escalated to alert level 2 if either case classification or total COVID-19 bed utilization increases to moderate risk or higher.

For areas under alert level 2, they may be escalated to a higher alert level if both case classification and total COVID-19 bed utilization are at moderate risk; or if case classification is at high to critical risk.

With this development, all areas in the country are now under alert level 2 with the province of Apayao now de-escalated from alert level 3 to alert level 2 beginning yesterday until December 15, 2021.

“As of today (Dec.3), no province or city is under alert level 3; nasa ilalim na po ng alert level 2 ang buong bansa. Sana po ay tuloy-tuloy na maligaya ang Pasko para sa ating kababayan,” said acting presidential spokesperson and Cabinet secretary Karlo Nograles. — FPL (FREEMAN)