The number of areas placed under granular lockdown has decreased to 319 as the country continues to improve its coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) situation.

Speaking to President Rodrigo R. Duterte during the Talk to the People briefing Monday night, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año reported that the number decreased by almost half from 605 areas last week.

“From 210 barangays last week, the number of barangays affected by granular lockdowns has dropped to 153. From 744 affected households, we only have 355. Only 499 individuals have so far been affected,” Año said.

He added that the number of places under granular lockdown is expected to drop as the government is intensifying its vaccination drive.

The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) still has the highest number of areas under granular lockdown with 176, followed by Ilocos Region with 97; National Capital Region, 22; Cagayan Valley, 19, Mimaropa, four and the Zamboanga Peninsula, one.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday backed the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases’ (IATF) decision to retain Alert Level 2 in Metro Manila from February 16 to 28.

In a statement, PNP chief, Gen. Dionardo Carlos said the decision will help sustain the momentum of the improving Covid-19 situation in the region.

“Downgrading to the most lenient, Alert Level 1, can lead to complacency. It is practical to impose enough restrictions so the public will still be bound to adhere to stricter health protocol,” he added.

Carlos said the move is also appropriate to control gatherings that have been observed in the past days following the start of the campaign period for national candidates in the May 9 elections.

Except for lloilo City, Iloilo Province, Guimaras, Zamboanga City, Davao De Oro, Davao Occidental, and South Cotabato which have been placed under Alert Level 3, Metro Manila and the rest of the country are under Alert Level 2. (PNA)