Philippines wins over COVID-19; lifts State of Public Health Emergency
On Friday, July 21, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed Proclamation No. 297, revoking the State of Public Health Emergency declared by COVID-19 throughout the Philippines. He stated that any previous orders, memoranda, and issuances that are only applicable during the State of Public Health Emergency are deemed withdrawn, cancelled, or canceled and are no longer in effect.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte issued Proclamation No. 922 in March 2020, declaring a State of Public Health Emergency throughout the country owing to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The cessation of the public health emergency also means that all EUA (emergency use authorization) issued by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) pursuant to Executive Order (EO) No. 121 (s. 2020) will be valid for one year from the date of the lifting of the State of Public Health Emergency for the sole purpose of exhausting the remaining vaccines.
The order also urged all agencies to ensure that their policies, rules, and regulations take into account the lifting of the State of Public Health Emergency and to alter existing or promulgate new issuances, as appropriate.
The proclamation also states that, while COVID-19 remains a serious concern for certain subpopulations and necessitates ongoing public health response, the country has maintained adequate healthcare system capacity and low hospital bed utilization rates despite the liberalization of COVID-19 health protocols.
Source: Philippine Information Agency
Category: Community
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