By Azer Parrocha  

Cabinet Secretary and Acting Presidential Spokesperson Karlo Nograles (File photo)

MANILA – Most of the areas in the country, including Metro Manila, will remain under Alert Level 2 from Dec. 1 to 15 to prevent the entry of new Omicron variant of Covid-19, Malacañang announced in a statement on Monday night.

“The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) approved on Monday, November 29, 2021 the recommendation to place the National Capital Region under Alert Level 2,” Cabinet Secretary and acting Presidential Spokesperson Karlo Nograles said in a press statement.

Also placed under Alert Level 2 are:

Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR): Benguet, Abra, Kalinga, Baguio City, Mountain Province, and Ifugao;

Region 1: Dagupan City, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, La Union, and Pangasinan;

Region 2: Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and City of Santiago;

Region 3: Angeles City, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Olongapo City, Pampanga, Zambales, and Tarlac;

Region 4-A: Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, and Lucena City;

Region 4-B: Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Puerto Princesa City, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan;

Region 5: Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Masbate, and Naga City;

Region 6: Aklan, Antique, Bacolod City, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Iloilo City, and Negros Occidental;

Region 7: Bohol, Cebu, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor;

Region 8: Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Ormoc City, Southern Leyte, Tacloban City, and Western Samar;

Region 9: City of Isabela, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay;

Region 10: Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro City, Camiguin, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, and Misamis Oriental;

Region 11: Davao City, Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, and Davao Oriental;

Region 12: General Santos City, North Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat;

Region 13 (Caraga): Butuan City, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat Islands, and Agusan del Norte; and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao: Basilan, Cotabato City, Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, Lanao del Sur, and Maguindanao.

Meanwhile, the province of Apayao shall be placed under Alert Level 3 from Dec. 1 to 15.

On Monday, the Department of Health (DOH) reported 665 additional cases of Covid-19— the lowest single-day tally in over 16 months—bringing the total number of cases in the Philippines 2,832,275.

First detected in Botswana, Southern Africa, the Omicron variant has since cropped up in South Africa, Israel, Germany, Italy and Britain, and Hong Kong

Currently, the Philippines has not yet reported a case of the Omicron variant of Covid-19. (PNA)