PBBM: EMERGENCY STATE FOR COVID-19 IN PH LIFTED

DOH SAYS ORDER ‘POSITIVE STEP FORWARD,’ TRANSITION TO LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT OF CORONAVIRUS STARTS

By Charles Dantes, Gabriellea Parino and Joel Zurbano

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has officially lifted the State of Public Health Emergency across the country for the COVID-19 pandemic, more than three years after former President Rodrigo Duterte declared the emergency.

According to the Presidential Communications Office, Mr. Marcos issued Proclamation No.297 on July 21, lifting the public health emergency throughout the Philippines.

“All prior orders, memoranda, and issuances that are effective only during the State of Public Health Emer- gency shall be deemed withdrawn, revoked, or canceled and shall no longer be in effect,” the proclamation said.

In a statement, the Department of Health deemed the lifting of the state of emergency as a positive step forward.

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa “wholeheartedly” agreed that conditions no longer necessitate the continuation of the public health emergency status.

“The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) will convene for a final meet-

ELLIS CO’S JOURNEY OF DREAMS AND GLAMOR YOUNG LIFE | C1 ing to formally conclude the public health emergency, following which a comprehensive Final Report will be prepared for our fellow kababayans,” the DOH said in a statement released on their social media pages.

The proclamation states that it is time to transition to the long-term management of the COVID-19 virus.

Meanwhile, the emergency use authorization (EUA) issued by the Food and Drug Administration for COVID-19 vaccines will remain valid until next year or July 21, 2024.