Metro Mayors Recommend Alert Level 1 in NCR by March 1

Metro Manila mayors unanimously agreed to lower COVID restrictions for roughly 13 million people to the lowest level, Alert Level 1, starting March 1 as the omicron surge continues to slow down, the head of their council said Wednesday.

Should the Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID-19 approve the mayors' recommendation, it will be the first time for any region in the country to be placed under Alert Level 1 or the "new normal", wherein restrictions on mobility and business hours will be mostly removed.

"Ito pong Alert Level 1 na ito, proper implementation, minimum health standard, palagay ko po unti-unti na makaka-recover ang ating economy at gustong-gusto po 'yan ng ating mga negosyante," said Paranaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez, who heads the Metro Manila council.

EXPLAINER: Alert Level 1: What to Expect When We Get There 

The recommendation was based on data from the region's city epidemiology units, Olivarez told DZRH radio.

Olivarez said the Department of Health also classifies Metro Manila as at "low risk" for COVID, meaning usage of intensive care units and COVID beds in hospitals is below 30%. He said 80% of the region's population is vaccinated.

President Rodrigo Duterte will meet with the IATF on Thursday.