Showing signs of recovery
The vaccination drive in the Philippines resulted in about 71 million people being fully vaccinated for the coronavirus disease including about 14 million with booster shots, surpassing its earlier target of 70 million people. Having reached its vaccination target, most cities and provinces have implemented Alert Level 1, the lowest alert status, since the beginning of 2022. The alert level status was constantly changing depending on infection rates. Under this alert level, freer movement across populations was allowed, including full capacity for all establishments.To support the revival of the tourism and aviation industries, restrictions on the nationalities allowed to travel into the Philippines were scrapped, along with the previously mandated quarantine requirements. While inbound tourist arrivals continue to feel the brunt of the pandemic, domestic tourism generated the highest value of expenditures among the different types of travel.
New variants and waning booster uptake
As the coronavirus situation continues to evolve, along with the possible detection of new subvariants, the Philippines directed its focus on encouraging more Filipinos to get the booster shot. Slow booster uptake could trigger waves of infections, especially as restriction levels have been set to a minimum. The government also considered pushing for the rollout of the second dose of the booster to increase immunity from the new Omicron subvariant. As of June 2022, the National Capital Region accounted for the highest share of the population that received a booster shot.The Philippines is one out of more than 200 countries and territories battling the novel coronavirus. For further information about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, please visit our dedicated Facts and Figures page.
