Lifting public health emergency “premature” amid emerging Covid variants — Bong Go

In light of the mutating COVID-19 virus, Sen. Bong Go urged the government to await the advice of health experts before deciding whether or not to lift the state of public health emergency.

"It may be premature as of now. Hintayin lang po natin ang pag-aaral ng ating mga health experts and I'm sure it will be based on good science," said Go in an ambush interview after personally aiding residents in Nabunturan, Davao de Oro on Thursday, 22 December.

"Lahat naman po ito, mga bagong variant, nagmu-mutate, pinag-aaralan nilang mabuti at kung dapat na bang i-lift (ang state of public health emergency)," he added.

According to Go, health authorities are in the best position to determine and recommend when to lift the said status.

The Department of Health stated in October that if three requirements are met, including a plateauing of cases, increased immunization coverage, and a low number of severe and critical hospital admissions, it may recommend to President Bongbong Marcos the lifting of the state of public health emergency.

In August, Marcos extended the present government declarations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in order to sustain efforts to overcome the global health crisis and other emerging health threats.