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| Integrated Provincial Health Office chief Dr. Alinade Minalang says he prefers the retention of COVID-19 Alert Level 3 status in the province until they reached a high vaccination coverage. (Angelo Dologmandin/PIA Lanao del Sur) |
MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur -- Despite the decreasing COVID-19 cases, the chief of the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) here prefers the retention of COVID-19 Alert Level 3 status in the province until they reached a high vaccination coverage.
"Pag magkasama yung bumaba ang cases at maraming mabakunahan then pwede na tayong magbaba [alert level] pero dahil sa ngayon mababa pa yung ating nabakunahan may risk pa rin. That is why to me, mas maganda na nakamaintain pa rin ang ating alert level hanggang hindi tayo nakabakuna ng mas maraming constituents," Dr. Alinader Minalang said during the launching of vaccination for children 5-11 years on Monday, February 14.
[When both the cases go down and many are vaccinated then we can lower the alert level but because right now the number of people who have been vaccinated is still low, there is still a risk. That is why to me, it is better to still maintain our alert level until we have vaccinated more constituents.]
Only 65 active cases are being monitored in the province after five new cases were added on Sunday, February 13. Forty-seven (47) of these cases are distributed in 16 municipalities of the province while 18 are in Marawi City.
However, the vaccination coverage is only at 22% as of press time.
Minalang said that though a high alert level adversely impacts the economy as it limits the movement of people, it also means stringent observation and monitoring of health protocols.
"So we have to balance kasi pagbinaba mo naman nagkaroon nga ng magandang epekto sa economy natin, na increase yung activity, pero ang risk na marami ang lumalabas, maraming nagtitipon-tipon na mga tao, yung risk of transmission mas tumataas," he further said.
[So we have to balance because when the alert level is lower, it has a good effect on our economy, it increases activity, but the risk that many people come out, many people gather, the risk of transmission increases.]
Meanwhile, Malacanañg has placed the province under Alert Level 2 from February 16 to 28. Other areas in the Bangsamoro region that are also under Alert Level 2 are Basilan, Maguindanao, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Cotabato City. (APB/PIA Lanao del Sur)
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