Metro Manila stays under Alert Level 1 until end-July; General Santos City, 18 other LGUs ease restrictions

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 19)— The National Capital Region (NCR) will remain under the lowest COVID-19 risk classification until the end of July, the Department of Health (DOH) announced on Tuesday.

In a statement, the DOH said that Metro Manila is among the areas under Alert Level 1 from July 16 to 31.

The agency added that General Santos City and 18 other local government units were de-escalated to the same status after satisfying the metrics of the pandemic task force.

Here is the complete list of areas under Alert Level 1:

Meanwhile, the DOH also confirmed it is now reviewing the "future directions" of current COVID-19 alert levels upon the advice of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and health experts.

The Palace earlier said that Marcos is eyeing changes in the system by mid-August.

RELATED: Bongbong Marcos keeps COVID-19 alert levels, but many changes eyed by mid-August

This development comes amid the recorded spike in COVID-19 cases nationwide— with the country logging 14,640 new infections from July 11 to 17. The tally reflects a 44% increase from the previous week.