Before downgrading to Alert Level 1, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said 80% of the vulnerable population should be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Duque in a press briefing on Monday night said this was the recommendation of presidential adviser for COVID-19 response Vince Dizon.
"Kinakailangan 80% ng atin pong A2 and A3, 'yung mga vulnerable groups … dapat 80% of the eligible population ay kanila na pong naabot," he said.
(It is necessary that 80% of our A2 and A3, the vulnerable groups … 80% of their eligible population should be reached.)
"At kung hindi po sila makarating sa panukatan na iyan ay hindi po natin pwedeng ibaba to Alert Level 1," he added.
(If they cannot meet that standard then we cannot downgrade to Alert Level 1.)
Members of the A2 population include senior citizens, while A3 members are people with comorbidities, according to the Department of Health's guidelines.
Dizon's recommendation came as the country continues to report declining COVID-19 cases, with 1,427 new COVID-19 infections and active cases at 58,657.
Various groups have been calling for the de-escalation to Alert Level 1, especially in Metro Manila, with their mayors to come up with a recommendation over the matter.
