It’s the return of the comeback that nobody wanted: The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) has recently released a resolution (despite being dated April 14) stating that Metro Manila and several other regions are now under COVID-19 Alert Level 1, while 26 areas in the Philippines will be under Alert Level 2 until the end of the month (April 30).

The Department of Health recorded an increase of 3,148 new cases from April 17 to 23, with average daily cases pegged at 450, 32% higher than the previous week. Our country isn’t the only one experiencing this, as Vietnam is one of those experiencing a surge in cases once again.

So, what does that mean? Despite Alert Level 1 having the least amount of restrictions in terms of travel, we are still mandated by the DOTr to wear face masks in public transportation, like trains.

While the use of face masks in public is still voluntary, health experts and doctors highly recommend that you mask up regardless to protect not only yourself but also your loved ones around you.

If you’re curious about the regions and the provinces in the Philippines under Alert Levels 2 and 1, here they are:

ALERT LEVEL 2

• Cordillera Administrative Region
  • Benguet
  • Ifugao
• Region IV-A
  • Quezon Province
• Region IV-B
  • Palawan
• Region V
  • Camarines Norte
  • Masbate
• Region VI
  • Antique
  • Negros Occidental
• Region VII
  • Bohol
  • Cebu Province
  • Negros Oriental
• Region VIII
  • Leyte
  • Western Samar
• Region X
  • Lanao Del Norte
• Region XI
  • Davao De Oro
  • Davao Del Norte
  • Davao Del Sur
  • Davao Occidental
• Region XII
  • North Cotabato
  • Sarangani
  • Sultan Kudarat
• CARAGA
  • Dinagat Islands
• BARMM
  • Basilan
  • Maguindanao
  • Sulu
  • Tawi-Tawi

ALERT LEVEL 1

• Metro Manila
  • Caloocan
  • Malabon
  • Navotas
  • Valenzuela
  • Pateros
  • Pasig
  • Marikina
  • Taguig
  • Quezon City
  • Manila
  • Makati
  • Mandaluyong
  • San Juan
  • Muntinlupa
  • Parañaque
  • Las Piñas
  • Pasay
• Cordillera Administrative Region
  • Abra
  • Apayao
  • Baguio City
  • Kalinga
  • Mountain Province
  • Benguet (Buguias, Sablan, Tublay)
  • Ifugao (Alfonoso Lista-Potia, Kiangan, Lagawe, Lamut)
• Region I
  • Dagupan
  • Ilocos Norte
  • Ilocos Sur
  • La Union
  • Pangasinan
• Region II
  • Batanes
  • Cagayan
  • Santiago City
  • Isabela
  • Nueva Vizcaya
  • Quirino
• Region III
  • Angeles City
  • Aurora
  • Bataan
  • Bulacan
  • Nueva Ecija
  • Olangapo City
  • Pampanga
  • Tarlac
  • Zambales
• Region IV-A
  • Batangas
  • Cavite
  • Laguna
  • Lucena City
  • Rizal
  • Quezon (Alabat, Atimonan, Candelaria, Tayabas City, Dolores, Gumaca, Lucban, Mauban, Padre Burgos, Pagbilao, Perez, Plaridel, Polillo, Quezon, Sampaloc, San Antonion, Sariaya, Tiaong, Unisan)
• Region IV-B
  • Marinduque
  • Occidental Mindoro
  • Oriental Mindoro
  • Puerto Princesa
  • Romblon
  • Palawan (Cagayancillio, Culion, El Nido-Bacuit, Kalayaan)
• Region V
  • Albay
  • Camarines Sur
  • Catanduanes
  • Naga City
  • Sorsogon
  • Camarines Norte (Basud, Capalonga, Daet, San Vicente, Talisay)
  • Masbate (Balud, Batuan, Masbate City, Mandaon, Milargos, San Fernando)
• Region VI
  • Aklan
  • Bacolod City
  • Capiz
  • Guimaras
  • Iloilo Province
  • Iloilo City
  • Antique (Anini-y, Barbaza, San Jose, Sebaste, Tobias Fornier-Dao)
  • Negros Occidental (Cadiz City, Candoni, Himamaylan City, Talisay City, Victorias City, Enrique B. Magalona-Saravia, Ilog, La Carlota City, Murcia, Pontevedra, Pulupandan, Sagay City, San Enrique, Silay City, Valladolid)
• Region VII
  • Cebu City
  • Lapu-Lapu City
  • Mandaue City
  • Siquijor
  • Bohol (Alburquerque, Balilihan, Batuan, Calape, Corella, Dimiao, Duero, Garcia Hernandez, Jagna, Lila, Loay, Loboc, Maribojoc, President Carlos P. Garcia-Pitogo, San Isidro, San Miguel, Sevilla, Sikatuna, Tagbilaran City)
  • Cebu (Alcoy, Borbon, Naga City, Talisay City, Oslob, Pilar, Poro, Santander, Tudela)
  • Negros Oriental (Amlan-Ayuquitan, Bacong, Dauin, Dumagete City, Valencia-Luzurriaga, Zamboanguita)
• Region VIII
  • Biliran
  • Eastern Samar
  • Northern Samar
  • Ormoc City
  • Southern Leyte
  • Tacloban City
  • Leyte (Abuyog, Albuera, Bato, Barugo, Baybay City, Dulag, Hindang, Inopacan, Javier-Bugho, La Paz, Leyte, Matalom, Palo, Pastrana, Tabontabon, Tunga, Villaba)
  • Western Samar (Catbalogan City, Marabut, Motiong, Pagsanghan, Paranas-Wright, San Sebastian, Talalora, Tarangan, Zumarraga)
• Region IX
  • City of Isabela
  • Zamboanga
  • Zambaonga Del Norte
  • Zamboanga Del Sur
  • Zamboanga Sibugay
• Region X
  • Bukidnon
  • Cagayan De Oro City
  • Camiguin
  • Iligan City
  • Misamis Occidental
  • Misamis Oriental
  • Lanao Del Norte (Bacolod, Baroy, Kauswagan, Kolambugan, Lala, Linamon, Tubod)
• Region XI
  • Davao City
  • Davao Oriental
  • Davao De Oro (Mawab, Montevista, Nabunturan, New Bataan)
  • Davao Del Norte (Braulio E. Duajali, Island Garden City of Samal, Santo Tomas)
  • Davao Del Sur (Padada)
  • Davao Occidental (Don Marcelino, Malita, Santa Maria)
• Region XII
  • General Santos City
  • South Cotabato
  • North Cotabato (Antipas, Arakan, Kidapawan City, Kabacan, President Roxas)
• CARAGA
  • Butuan City
  • Surigao Del Norte
  • Surigao Del Sur
  • Agusan Del Norte
  • Agusan Del Sur
  • Dinagat Islands (Cagdianao, Dinagat, Libjo-Albor, Loreto, Tubajon)
• BARMM
  • Cotabato City
  • Lanao Del Sur
  • Maguindanao (South UPI, UPI)
  • Sulu (Hadji Panglima Tahil-Marunggas)
  • Tawi-Tawi (Turtle Islands)