32 provinces in the Philippines are on second-level epidemic alert. The Capital Region continues to maintain first-level

On October 31, local time, the Philippine Ministry of Health announced that the Capital Region and 89 provinces and 192 municipalities will continue to maintain the most relaxed first-level epidemic alert from November 1 to 15, while 32 places will be on second-level epidemic alert.

Maria Rosario Vergeire, head of the Philippine Department of Health (DOH), said: "This means that our key indicators, such as health care utilization, are gradually improving. We attribute this development to every Filipino who follows basic health and quarantine measures."

Although the trend of cases and admissions has declined, the Department of Health says the battle against the new coronavirus is not over.

She added: "The current numbers are not permanent; we have to work together to keep these indices low."

Virgil also called on local government officials to strengthen their strategies and policies on the COVID-19 virus and other diseases as restrictions are relaxed, and urged the public to assess the situation before removing their masks.

She said: "Before we say it's safe to take the mask off, let's think about whether we have been vaccinated against the new crown? Are there many people in our place? Do we live with the elderly, the sick or pregnant? Every time we take the mask off, we should ask ourselves all these questions."