THE Department of Health yesterday said the next biosurveillance report of the Philippine Genome Center (PGC) is crucial amid the threat of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
In a brief statement, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that “we are still processing the next batch of whole genome sequences” and quickly added: “Just to be clear, no detection yet of Omicron.”
The DOH’s statement comes on the heels of reports that three expatriates and one returning overseas Filipino (ROF) have been placed under isolation after arriving in Negros Occidental from South Africa, where the new Omicron variant was first detected late last month.
News reports say the four were set to undergo swab tests for COVID-19 yesterday.
According to Vergeire, the DOH is still verifying the information on the travelers from South Africa.
“We are getting details on these travelers. We will provide info as soon as possible,” she said.
The expatriates and the returning Filipino arrived in the country before travelers from African countries were banned in the Philippines starting November 28 to prevent the entry of the Omicron variant.
These countries include South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, and Mozambique, which are on the red list or areas considered as “high-risk” for COVID-19.
The three foreigners reportedly work as consultants for a power firm operating two solar power plants in Negros Occidental, while the returning overseas Filipino, who passed through Bacolod, is from Pontevedra town.
Two of the expatriates arrived in Negros Occidental on November 25 while the other one, on November 26. They are now undergoing 14-day quarantine in rented houses in two localities.
There are also reports that seven more Negrenses, who recently returned to the country from South Africa, are being monitored by the Bureau of Quarantine in the National Capital Region.
While the Omicron report was only declared as a variant of concern recently, it has been reported that it was already circulating before it was officially identified in South Africa last week. It has been detected in more than a dozen countries.
FACE SHIELD
Cabinet Secretary and acting presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles yesterday said the government policy on the mandatory wearing of shields in hospital settings and in areas under Alert level 5 remains while its use in certain places and establishments located in areas under lower alert levels depend on local government units and private companies.
Nograles, in an interview with ABS CBN News Channel, said the wearing of a face shield is also voluntary in most places.
“The question is will there be any changes? I don’t know. Let’s wait. There is Omicron, we will have to see where it goes. We will have to monitor developments. But right now, it’s status quo, it’s voluntary,” Nograles said.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. and the technical advisory group of the Department of Health (DOH) are in favor of reimposing the use of face shields as an additional layer of protection against COVID-19) amid the Omicron threat.
Currently, face shields are mandatory in areas under Alert Level 5 and in areas that are closed, crowded, and where close contact (3Cs) is likely to occur, such as hospitals and other medical facilities. Its use in areas under Alert Levels 1 to 3 is voluntary.
In areas under Alert Level 4, the face shield policy is left to the discretion of LGUs and owners of private establishments.
Nograles said owners of private establishments may require the use of face shields for the protection of customers, or their clientele, or their employees.
Vaccine expert panel Dr. Rontgene Solante, who favors the mandatory use of face shield across the whole country, warned that the Omicron variant is “not weaker” than the Delta variant.
“This is the first time that we’ve seen a variant of concern wherein you have, to be exact, 32 mutations in the spike protein and these are really significant that it can be highly transmissible and it can also affect our vaccines,” he said.
Solante said while little is still known about Omicron, the currently available vaccines in the country are not all ineffective against Omicron since nine of the 32 mutations in the latest variant were also found in the Alpha, Gamma, and Delta variants.
The current vaccines in the country have been effective against the Alpha, Gamma, and Delta variants, he added. — With Jocelyn Montemayor and Wendell Vigilia
