AN expert in infectious diseases yesterday said COVID-19 never disappeared despite the end of the pandemic so there is no reason for alarm amid a reported uptick in cases in some countries in the Southeast Asian region.
Dr Rontgene Solante, former Philippine College of Physicians (PCP), said there are countries where COVID-19 infection continues.
The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global health emergency in March 2020, and its end in May 2023.
“There will be countries reporting clusters of increase in cases but it’s not something to be alarmed with or should cause panic,” Solante said in mixed Filipino and English, during an interview with radio dzBB.
Solante also said virus circulating now is no different from those that circulated in the latter part of the pandemic.
“This is still the COVID-19 variant of the different lineages of the Omicron. These are just variants under monitoring. It means that the ability of this virus to be severe or have increased transmissibility is not new,” he said.
Solante said occasional spike in cases is not unusual, with health protocols only at a minimum in several countries.
“In highly urbanized areas with very dense population, there is a high risk of transmission especially now that almost nobody wears masks,” he said.
Earlier, the Department of Health (DOH) said it is actively monitoring COVID-19 trends, including the recently reported increases in specific areas of Southeast Asia.
The DOH said it does not see any cause for alarm as the country is seeing an 87 percent decrease in COVID-19 cases and fatalities compared to 2024.
A surge in cases has been reported by Hong Kong and Singapore, among others. Singapore’s health ministry has said the current variants do not show they can cause more severe disease.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) urged overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to stay healthy and follow health protocols of their host countries.
“We are just reiterating these health advisory reminders of the Department of Health, especially for our OFWs, to take care of themselves,” said the DMW.
“These include wearing face masks in healthcare facilities, staying home when sick, covering the mouth when coughing and sneezing, regularly washing hands with soap and water, and seeking early consultation for symptoms,” it said.
“Just continue following your host countries’ health and safety protocols,” it added.
