Pres. Marcos Lifts COVID-19 State of Public Health Emergency, Shifts Focus to Long-Term Management

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The State of Public Health Emergency for COVID-19 throughout the Philippines, as stated in Proclamation No. 297, has now been formally withdrawn by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. All prior orders, memos, and issuances that applied only during the Public Health Emergency are revoked as a result of this action, which was announced, Today, Saturday, July 22, 2023.

With regard to the lifting of the emergency status, all emergency use authorizations (EUA) issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under Executive Order No. 121 (s. 2020) will remain valid for one year from the date of the State of Public Health Emergency's termination. The goal of this extension is to enable the full utilization of remaining vaccination supplies. 

All government agencies have been instructed by President Marcos to revise their policies in light of the lifting of the State of Public Health Emergency and to issue new ones or change existing ones as necessary.

In March 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 epidemic, former President Rodrigo Duterte issued Proclamation No. 922, which officially proclaimed the State of Public Health Emergency. According to the declaration, the emergency situation wouldn't end until the President lifted it.

The government acknowledges that COVID-19 continues to pose a serious threat to some specific populations even after the emergency proclamation was lifted, thus it is cautious in its response to the virus. Even with the relaxation of COVID-19 health rules, the nation has yet to maintain sufficient capacity for its healthcare system and low rates of hospital bed utilization.

In June, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa suggested that the state of public health emergency associated with COVID-19 be lifted. He emphasized that COVID-19 should be treated similarly to other illnesses tracked by the Department of Health (DOH), such as influenza, cough, and colds. The alert level system that has been put in place will stay in place.

The International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) acknowledged the high levels of community immunity to SARS-CoV-2, the drop in hospitalizations and critical care admissions, and the declining trend in COVID-19 deaths in May. COVID-19 is no longer a public health emergency of worldwide concern, according to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who also advocated a move toward long-term treatment of the pandemic.

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Source: Marcos lifts COVID-19 state of public health emergency (msn.com)

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