Thread by @cnnphilippines

THREAD: Government officials hold 'Laging Handa' briefing on the coronavirus pandemic, other national issues | Live blog bit.ly/3HgFB2v

Updates by our digital producer @PiaGarciaHere

@PiaGarciaHere DOH Sec. Francisco Duque III says they will be discussing the resolution recommending the easing of Metro Manila to Alert Level 1.

cnnphilippines.com/news/2022/2/23…

He adds the meeting will be at 2pm today.

DOH Sec. Duque says the IATF will need to see the latest data before making a decision on whether Alert Level 1 in NCR and other areas will be allowed

DOH Sec. Duque: Sa Metro Manila ang A2 target population ay 1,222,154. Ang number ng fully vaccinated nasa 1.025 million... Sa kanilang pangkalahatan na target population, lampas na sila sa 80%

DOH Sec. Duque: In fact, ang NCR 100% na of its target population fully vaccinated. Ito ay 166% to be exact. Tapos, yan ang kanila estado which means they're truly and genuinely right for deescalation.

DOH Sec. Duque says the public will still need to continue observing minimum public standards

DOH Sec. Duque says they are considering a house-to-house immunization campaign to bring boosters closer to senior citizens and others who are unable to go to inoculation sites

DOH Sec. Duque: Itong Marso, itong susunod na buwan ay makakasiguro kayo na magpapaganap na naman tayo ng National Vaccination Day 4

DOH Sec. Duque: Yung ating mga senior citizens uunahin natin sila

https://twitter.com/cnnphilippines/status/1496691096516435968

DOH Sec. Duque continues to appeal to the public to take advantage of the government's vaccination program so they would be protected against COVID-19

Philippine Overseas Labor & Office (POLO) Taipei Labor Attaché Cesar Chavez Jr. says the situation of Filipinos in the country remains good

Labor Attaché Chavez: Kaya lang po itong taong ito nagkaroon ng temporary ban simula nung Mayo, hindi na nakakabalik yung mga manggagawang Pilipino dito kasama na yung mga ibang countries. Ngayon lang pong Feb. 15 pinahintulutang bumalik muli yung mga migrant workers.

Labor Attaché Chavez: Sana makabalik na yung mga inaasahang OFWs dito sa Taiwan, at hinihintay na ng kanilang mga employers

Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines president Dr. Jose Rene de Grano says COVID-19 admission has gone down: Ang utilization rate below 30% na at bumababa ang active cases daily.

He adds hospitals must remain ready should cases go up again.

PHAPi's Dr. De Grano: Karamihan na nahawa na health care workers ay nakabalik na

PHAPi's Dr. De Grano says would prefer to wait for two more weeks before easing to Alert Level 1: Pero kung yun ang desisyon ng IATF, susunod po kami ang ano lang diyan, ay ang implementasyon ng minimum public health standards — yun ang talagang kailangan gawin

PHAPi's Dr. De Grano says they are concerned that people would not follow minimum public health standards once Alert Level 1 is raised: Baka bigla ulit magkaroon ng surge

PHAPi's Dr. De Grano says they continue to coordinate with LGUs and the DOH to keep encouraging people to get vaccinated, booster doses