MORE than 1,500 new Omicron variant cases have been detected in the country, effectively thereby solidifying its status as the dominant lineage of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country.
In a statement issued on late Monday, the Department of Health (DOH) said there are 1,569 additional Omicron variant cases detected by the Philippine Genome Center (PGC), PGC-Visayas, and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).
The 1,569 Omicron variant cases were composed of 1,458 local cases, 76 Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROFs), and 35 cases whose indicated addresses are being verified.
It noted that 702 Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant cases (94.35%) came from the 744 samples sequenced by the PGC last January 30, 2022.
On the other hand, the 867 additional Omicron variant cases (92.63%) came from the 936 samples from the sequencing run of PGC Visayas, and the RITM last February 6, 2022.
The total number of confirmed Omicron variant cases is now 2,722.
Based on the case line list, 72 cases are still active, four cases have died, 1,403 cases have been tagged as recovered, while there are 90 cases whose outcomes are still being verified.
Given the latest deaths, the DOH said there are now a total of nine deaths among confirmed Omicron cases in the country.
Meanwhile, the DOH said 499 of those who got infected with the Omicron variant were fully vaccinated, 11 were partially vaccinated, and 15 were unvaccinated.
The remainder 2,197 are those whose vaccination status are currently being verified.
DELTA
Aside from the Omicron variant, also detected in the latest whole genome sequencing runs are additional 16 Delta variant cases.
This includes nine Delta (B.1.617.2) variant cases (1.21%) from the PGC run, and seven (0.75%) Delta variant cases in the sequencing done by PGC-Visayas and RITM.
This brings the total number of confirmed Delta variant cases in the country to 8,663.
All the newly detected Delta variant cases are local patients, said the DOH.
And based on the case line list, two cases are still active while 14 cases have been tagged as recovered.
Among the Delta variant cases, a total of 628 were reported to have been fully vaccinated, 230 were partially vaccinated, 536 were unvaccinated, and 7,269 are those whose vaccination status are currently being verified.
ALERT LEVELS
Vaccine Expert Panel (VEP) member and infectious disease expert Dr. Rontgene Solante yesterday cautioned the government against any drastic decisions to lower the COVID-19 alert levels in the country, especially in Metro Manila.
Solante, during the Laging Handa public briefing, said it is still too early to lift restrictions and downgrade the country to Alert Level 1.
“In my opinion, we still need to stay in Alert Level 2. It’s too early and I think it’s too drastic to change to a lower alert level like one (because) we are still seeing high cases. We need to be vigilant about these numbers. We should not just deescalate alert levels,” he said.
Metro Manila is under Alert Level 2 until February 15.
Solante said it would be better if the government would wait for at least two more weeks to see if the COVID-19 cases would continue to go down.
He reminded everyone that while the current alert level in NCR is already low, and people, including kids, are allowed to go out of their homes, it does not mean that the health crisis has ended.
He said the pandemic-19 remains present and the unvaccinated are usually the ones who get infected.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said it is possible that the country will shift to Alert Level 1 if the current downtrend is sustained or improved.
Speaking during the launch of the COVID-19 vaccination of kids aged 5 to 11 years old in Quezon City, Duque said: “Let us wait a little longer. Once the decrease continues and we reach the threshold for Alert Level 1, then we will do that,” said Duque.
“Nothing will prevent us from deescalating to Alert Level 1. The sooner the better,” he added.
The health chief noted how the two-week growth rate (TWGR) as well as the average daily attack rate (ADAR) are at low risk and moderate risk classifications, respectively.
On the other hand, he said the COVID-19 bed utilization and ICU bed utilization rates are both at low-risk classification.
“Will these reach the threshold for Alert Level 1? Let us wait for it,” said Duque.
On Sunday, the independent OCTA Research said the number of new COVID-19 cases in the country has been steadily dropping since it recorded 34,958 average cases on January 11 until 17.
For the period February 1 until 5, the daily average nationwide went down to 8,422 new cases.
Duque urged the public to get inoculated against COVID-19 as soon as possible. “This is why we have been aggressive about our vaccination program,” he said.
Data shows that as of February 4, 59.8 million individuals have been fully vaccinated, while booster doses have been administered to 8 million people.
ROMBLON
A town mayor from Romblon and some 200 other individuals were arrested on Sunday by policemen while engaged in cockfighting, which is prohibited in areas under Alert Level 3.
Romblon is under Alert 3 until February 15.
The Mimaropa regional police office said Jovencio Mayor Jr, the mayor of Ferrol town, and the other suspects were nabbed during an anti-illegal gambling drive dubbed “Operational Plan Bolilyo.”
The suspects were arrested by joint operatives of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Romblon, Ferrol town police station and Romblon Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC) at around 10:20 a.m. at the Tubigon Square Garden cockpit arena in Barangay Tubigon in Ferrol town.
Police said the operation was conducted based on a tip from an unidentified resident that a cockfight was being held at the arena despite the strict restrictions imposed by the town.
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging and Infectious Disease has issued Resolution 159-A that prohibits cockfighting in areas that are under alert level 3.
Seized from the suspects unspecified amount of bet money, gambling paraphernalia, and a number of dead and alive fighting cocks with gaffs.
“This is a clear violation of IATF Resolution No. 159-A series of 2022, and Presidential Decree 449 or the Cockfighting Law of 1974 as amended by Presidential Decree 1602. All persons engaged in the cockfight were arrested and booked,” said PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos.
The suspects are currently under the custody of the PMFC while CIDG probers are preparing charges against them.
“It is unfortunate that an elected official was among the arrested violators, but we are just acting on reports with careful monitoring. It will be up for the prosecutor to appreciate the evidence,” Carlos said.
Mimaropa region police Brig. Gen. Sidney Hernia commended the personnel involved in the operation “for this this very remarkable accomplishment.”
“May this serve as a stern warning for other elected officials and illegal gamblers that Mimaropa police will enforce the law without fear and favor,” said Hernia. — With Jocelyn Montemayor and Victor Reyes
