Though authorities are worried about the Omicron COVID-19 variant, the government retained the relatively less strict Alert Level 2 over Metro Manila until December 15. 

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles annnounced this decision by the country’s pandemic task force on Monday, November 29.

Most of the country is under Alert Level 2 as well for the same time period (see full list below). Apayao is the only province under the stricter Alert Level 3.

But due to the uncertainties about the Omicron variant and how effective current vaccines are against it, the government suspended “until further notice” its plan to welcome fully-vaccinated foreign travelers from non-visa required green list countries (countries with low COVID-19 transmission rates), said the tourism department on Monday. The plan was suppposed to take effect on December 1.

Areas under Alert Level 2 from December 1-15:

• Cordillera Administrative Region: Benguet, Abra, Kalinga, Baguio City, Mountain Province, and Ifugao
• Ilocos Region (Region I) : Dagupan City, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, La Union, and Pangasinan
• Cagayan Valley (Region II) : Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and City of Santiago
• Central Luzon (Region III) : Angeles City, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Olongapo City, Pampanga, Zambales, and Tarlac
• Calabarzon (Region IV-A) : Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, and Lucena City
• Mimaropa (Region IV-B): Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Puerto Princesa City, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan
• Bicol (Region V) : Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Masbate, and Naga City
• Western Visayas (Region VI) : Aklan, Antique, Bacolod City, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Iloilo City, and Negros Occidental
• Central Visayas (Region VII) : Bohol, Cebu, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor
• Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) : Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Ormoc City, Southern Leyte, Tacloban City, and Western Samar
• Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX) : City of Isabela, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay
• Northern Mindanao (Region X) : Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro City, Camiguin, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, and Misamis Oriental
• Davao Region (Region XI): Davao City, Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, and Davao Oriental
• Soccsksargen (Region XII): General Santos City, North Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat
• Caraga (Region XIII) : Butuan City, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat Islands, and Agusan del Norte
• Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao: Basilan, Cotabato City, Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, Lanao del Sur, and Maguindanao. 

– Rappler.com