Philippine Canadian Inquirer (National)
DOH: IATF discussion on ‘decoupling’ of Covid restrictions done
MANILA – Member agencies of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) have already convened and discussed the possible “decoupling” or separation of Covid-19 restrictions from the existing alert level system.
In a media forum on Tuesday, Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the agency was represented by Assistant Secretary Beverly Ho at the meeting where survey questions for local government units were raised.
Vergeire disclosed two of the questions included the reporting frequency of the alert level system and the implementation of the minimum public health standards.
“Frequency of reporting of alert level system, ngayon every 15 days tayo, tinanong sila payag ba kayo kung once a month na lang natin ito gagawin (it’s every 15 days currently, they we’re asked if they agree with once a month [reporting]),” she said.
“Kung agree sila na ‘yung minimum public health standards and restrictions should be within the authority of the local governments na lang at hindi na national government (If they agree that the minimum public health standards and restrictions should be within the authority of the local governments and no longer that of the national government),” she added.
Last year, the DOH said it would recommend the decoupling of restrictions from the alert levels to make them work like storm signals used by the weather bureau.
“Nagkaroon na ng mga rekomendasyon na within the IATF but we cannot say yet because kelangan pa namin ipadala ulit for ad referendum kung papayag na lahat ng members (There’s already a recommendation within the IATF but we cannot say yet because we need it sent again for ad referendum if all members would agree) and we would be informing all of you after that),” Vergeire said.
She emphasized that the IATF is already in the direction where it would like to “use the alert level system not as a prescribing tool for restrictions but a risk communication tool for local governments and the public to know what must be done in every risk level”. ■