The Department of Health (DOH) welcomed the declaration of the World Health Organization (WHO) that COVID-19 as a global health emergency is over.
"This is an acknowledgment of our effective and collaborative COVID-19 response and concerted efforts to fully recover and re-open our country," it said in a statement on Friday.
@DOHgovph, IATF nakatakdang mag-convene para talakayin at muling busisiin ang mga polisya matapos tuldukan ng @WHO ang #COVID19 global health emergency | RH15 @JecelleRicafort pic.twitter.com/FbaM1DP7ds
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) May 5, 2023
According to DOH, it will meet with the members of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for Emerging Infectious Diseases to "discuss and reassess policies and other guidelines" in connection with WHO's proclamation.
It added that any actions they will agreed to do will be up for the approval of President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr.
WHO's proclamation was made amidst the rising positivity rate in the country.
Based on the OCTA Research Team's data, the weekly COVID-19 positivity rate in the National Capital Region (NCR) has already surpassed the 20% benchmark on May 3 from the 14 percent logged on April 26.
OCTA Research Team fellow Guido David said they are projecting that the positivity rate — the percentage of people who were found positive for COVID-19 — in Metro Manila would go as high as 25% for the month of May.
On Thursday, May 5, the Department of Health (DOH) reported 1,563 new COVID-19 cases with the active tally rising to 9,519.
