Philippines to lower Covid-19 alert level amid falling cases
Bangkok, Jan 30 (EFE).- The Philippine government Sunday said it would lower the coronavirus alert level in Manila and seven other provinces, amid a decline in infections.
The Covid-19 coordinating committee said the alert level would go down to 2, from 3, starting Monday, with restaurants, gyms, cinemas set to operate at 50% capacity.
Dozens of other cities and provinces across the archipelago, however, will remain at level 3.
Earlier in January, Manila raised the alert after an Omicron-driven surge saw cases reach more than 30,000. Infections have since dropped to about 17,000 a day.
Authorities in Manila also imposed strict limits on movement for unvaccinated people, who are only allowed to leave their homes to either buy essential items or go to hospital or work.
The Philippines is set to re-open for fully vaccinated visitors on February 10 for the first time since the start of the pandemic in 2020.
The Southeast Asian country, which went through two coronavirus waves in April and September, has so far reported 3.53 million infections and 53,800 related deaths.
Some 53% of the country’s population of 111 million have received at least two shots of the Covid-19 vaccine, according to figures from the Our World in Data.EFE
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