The Department of Health (DOH) mentioned Tuesday that the detection of Omicron subvariant BF.7 within the Philippines shouldn’t be a trigger for concern, however one thing that might increase extra vigilance for Filipinos.
At a press convention, DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire mentioned the BF.7, which is taken into account a sublineage of the Omicron subvariant BA.5, reveals to be “more transmissible and more immune evasive,” primarily based on proof.
“Pero wala pa ring ebidensya na nagsasabi na itong BF.7 na ito ay mas nagko-cause ng severe and critical infections,” she mentioned.
(But there may be nonetheless no proof that claims that this BF.7 causes extra extreme and significant infections.)
Emphasizing that the coronavirus will already keep and proceed to mutate, Vergeire mentioned that what the general public ought to concentrate on is getting vaccinated and persevering with compliance to minimal public well being requirements.
“Sa lahat ng suvbariants na pumasok dito, it’s not supposed to be a concern, but it’s supposed to be something that we be cautious on and something that we become more vigilant because itong mga subvariants na ito, hindi ito matatapos because we are living with the virus already. The virus is here to stay,” she mentioned.
Currently, there are 4 instances of the Omicron subvariant BF.7 which were detected within the nation, in accordance with the DOH.
Despite this, Vergeire mentioned the federal government is not going to implement one other generalized lockdown.
Holiday celebration
Further, Vergeire mentioned Filipinos are “very cautious” and lots of nonetheless decide to put on face masks in the course of the holidays regardless of the eased COVID-19 restrictions.
She mentioned the DOH will know after 14 days if there shall be a rise in COVID-19 infections because of vacation gatherings, however pressured she believes the instances “will not be the same as the one we’ve had before” even when there’ll certainly be an uptick.
“As I’ve said, ngayon mas better equipped tayo. Ang ating bansa, ang ating mga kababayan, bakunado tayo. Mataas ang bakunahan. Marami sa atin ay sumusunod talaga pa rin sa ating minimum public health standards,” Vergire mentioned.
(As I’ve mentioned, we at the moment are higher outfitted. Many of us are vaccinated, and the vaccination price is excessive. Many of us are nonetheless following our minimal public well being requirements.)
“So comparing it to before, I don’t think na magkakaron tayo ng mas mataas na mga kaso compared to what we’ve had before during the time na wala pa tayong bakuna sa ating bansa,” she added.
(I do not assume that we are going to have greater instances in comparison with what we have had earlier than in the course of the time that we nonetheless do not have vaccines in our nation.)
Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. (PHAPI) president Dr. Jose Rene de Grano, nevertheless, mentioned Monday that there’s a chance that new COVID-19 infections will improve once more contemplating the current detection of Omicron subvariant BF.7, and the gathering of individuals over Christmas. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
