GIVEN the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases in recent days, the Department of Health is assuming the highly transmissible Omicron variant is now present in the communities.
But an official confirmation through genome sequencing is still needed, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a briefing.
“In other countries, according to our experts, the increase in cases double every two days. In the Philippines, we are seeing a similar trend,” Vergeire said.
“Based on our observations, our assumption is Omicron is already in the communities. The transmission accelerated because of it,” she added.
But Vergeire said there is yet no “definitive proof” of local transmission.
Based on genome sequencing results, 42.48 percent of samples are of the Delta variant, while the Omicron variant accounts only for 0.07 percent.
“We need to be very definite to confirm that it is indeed Omicron circulating in the community. We need to have our whole genome sequencing,” she said.
“For us to declare or to determine if there is local transmission, we will still need confirmatory tests from the Philippine Genome Center,” she added.
The DOH’s observation was shared by Dr. Edsel Salvana, a member of the DOH Technical Advisory Group (TAG), saying all signs point to the presence of the Omicron variant.
“Cases emerging are mostly mild, while transmission is very rapid as we all know that Omicron has a shorter incubation period,” he said.
“There is a possibility that there is Omicron circulating already but we don’t know yet its exact proportion,” said Salvana.
The Philippines has detected 14 Omicron cases, including 11 imported cases and three local cases.
Of the 14, only two remain as active cases while the other 12 have recovered.
Malacañang reminded the public anew not to be complacent and instead be mindful that there are other COVID-19 variants like the more severe Delta.
Cabinet secretary and acting presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles, in an interview with ANC, said some people are being too focused on the Omicron variant and speculating that the rise in COVID cases is due to Omicron.
“We have to remember that Delta is still around. So, don’t forget. Don’t say, ‘It’s okay because Omicron is milder.’ Delta is still around,” he said in mixed English and Filipino.
Nograles and Presidential Adviser for Covid-19 Response Vivencio Dizon said people should continue to follow minimum health protocols and be vaccinated.
Dizon, during the “Laging Handa” public briefing, said the government will apply the same strategy that it used during the Delta variant surge to control the spread of Omicron.
He said the government is strengthening its Prevent-Detect-Isolate-Treat-Reintegrate (PDTIR) strategy and urged Filipinos to strictly follow health protocols such as wearing face masks, sanitizing, and avoiding crowded areas.
He again urged the unvaccinated Filipinos to get their COVID-19 jabs as he said new variants will target the unvaccinated. — With Jocelyn Montemayor
