OCTA says higher Metro infections due to subvariants
NEW coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the country slightly increased one week after the May 9 elections, logging 173 daily average cases or 1,214 infections from May 16 to 22, the Department of Health reported yesterday.
The DOH said the total number of COVID cases from May 16 to 22 was higher by 96 cases, or 9.9 percent from the 1,118 cases recorded during the period May 9 to 15.
Of the additional infections during the May 16 to 22 period, the DOH said 14 were severe and critical.
The DOH’s weekly case bulletin showed 718, or 12.9 percent of COVID patients in hospitals, were in severe or critical condition. The figure is higher than the previous week’s 588, which comprised 10.9 percent of COVID hospital admissions at the time.
The bulletin also showed that 432, or 15.4 percent, out of the 2,812 intensive care unit beds for COVID-19 patients are also occupied, while 17.4 percent of 23,697 non-ICU beds are being used.
The DOH also verified six COVID-related deaths, of which three occurred between May 9 and 22, one in April, one in February, and one in January 2021.
The late recording of some of the deaths according was due to late encoding, the department explained.
This was the second lowest death toll since the pandemic began more than two years ago, except for the weeks when no fatalities were recorded by the health department.
OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David yesterday said the recent uptick in COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila is not related to election-related gatherings but due to the presence of Omicron subvariants in the country.
David made the statement in reaction to the DOH’s report that the cities of Pasig, Muntinlupa, Pasay, Quezon, Caloocan and Marikina and the lone municipality of Pateros in the National Capital Region (NCR) are seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases.
While health authorities are on guard for a possible increase in COVID-19 cases after the May 9 elections, David said the recorded increase is not related to poll-related mass gatherings, such as campaign sorties and rallies.
“Most likely this is due to the new subvariant (of Omicron) rather than the election kasi kahit noong February may mga sorties at campaigns tayo pero di naman tumaas ang cases (even last February when we have sorties and campaigns, we didn’t see an increase in cases),” David told the Laging Handa public briefing.
David said Metro Manila has registered a reproduction rate of 1 to 1.05.
David said the observation period, which is two weeks after the May 9 polls, is already over and they have not monitored any increase in COVID cases related to it.
“More or less, tapos na ang observation since the election pero mino-monitor namin sa ngayon itong subvariants (The observation period after the elections is over but we are now monitoring the Omicron subvariants),” he said.
Aside from the highly transmissible Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1, health authorities confirmed last Saturday the presence of another subvariant, the BA.4 “variant of concern,” in the country.
The BA.4 case is a Filipino who flew in from the Middle East last May, the DOH said.
The DOH earlier said there was already a local transmission of the BA 2.12.1 variant in NCR, Western Visayas and Puerto Princesa City in Palawan.
Even with the two new subvariants, David said OCTA sees no surge in COVID-19 cases in the country similar to what happened in South Africa, which saw an increase up to 10,000 daily cases due to the BA.4 subvariant, or like what happened in January this year when cases in the country surged to more than 30,000.
“Baka umabot lang sa atin na 5,000 cases daily at most. Tingin ko di aabot ng 10,000 cases pero mahalaga magpabakuna at booster shot at sumunod palagi sa health protocols (Maybe, it would reach up to 5,000 cases daily at the most but not 10,000 cases. However, it is important that we get vaccinated as well as the booster shot and we should always adhere to health protocols),” he said.
David said that aside from Metro Manila, OCTA is also closely monitoring the provinces of South Cotabato, Agusan del Norte, Albay and Palawan due to an increase in COVID-19 cases in the said areas.
The increases, though, are not alarming. “Wala pa namang alarming dito at mababa pa din ang positivity rate (None is alarming and the positivity rate is still low),” he also said.
‘WALL OF IMMUNITY’
David assured the public there is no cause for alarm or panic, pointing out that the government has put up a “wall of immunity” through its vaccination program and the minimum health and safety protocols such as the wearing of face mask and social distancing.
“Mayroon pa tayong wall of immunity din though may nakakalusot na kaunting infections pero so far kakaunti naman.This is positive pero di natin dapat balewalain (We still have a wall of immunity though there are some infections that managed to penetrate it. This is positive but we should not relax a bit),” David said.
He also encouraged the public to get their booster shots to enhance their protection from the virus.
The DOH said Friday that about 40 million Filipinos are eligible to get their booster shots but have yet to be vaccinated.
The department is eyeing to fully vaccinate 77 million Filipinos before the end of President Duterte’s term next month.
Some 69 million or 76.71 percent of Filipinos are already vaccinated against COVID-19, while 13.8 million also got their booster shots.
As to senior citizens, the DOH said 6.7 million or 77.22 percent of the target have already been inoculated.
In Marikina, the city government’s Public Information Office said they will allow adult and kid residents and city workers to walk-in at the Marikina sports center to get their vaccinations and booster from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
They only need to present an identification card showing they are city residents or are working in business establishments operating in the city.
For pediatrics, only the Pfizer brand is available. — With Christian Oineza
