The spike in new cases may still be due to the Delta variant, not Omicron, according to the special adviser of the National Task Force against COVID-19, amid a recent increasing trend in new infections.
According to Teddy Herbosa, there are only four official cases of the Omicron variant, all imported from overseas, and the recent case hike could likely be due to the Delta variant.
"Itong pagtaas ng kaso, itong 889, ito malamang ay Delta pa rin. Sapagkat hindi naman tayo nag-zero nung Delta," Herbosa told DZRH in an interview.
(This increase in cases, this 889, this is likely the Delta variant. Because we never reached zero Delta cases.)
This is unlike the possibility raised by OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David, who on Wednesday said this could possibly be due to an undetected transmission of the Omicron variant.
Herbosa, however, attributed the increase to the increased number of gatherings amid the holiday season.
"Ang masisisi ko lang dito ay yung ating pag-celebrate ng Pasko. Dumami ang mga tao sa labas, yung mobility, kumakain sa labas, kasama nung mga vaccinated at unvaccinated at nagkahawaan tayo. Kitang-kita po in the past two days, nag-umpisa tayo 200, naging 400, yung 400 ngayon nasa 889," he said.
(The only thing I could blame is our celebration of Christmas. Many people were outside, eating outside, and together with vaccinated and unvaccinated and this caused transmission. This is reflected in the past two days, we started with 200, then came 400, which now became 889.)
"So mag-ingat po tayo, very important, nandyan pa rin ang COVID, nandyan pa rin si Delta variant, at nakabadya si Omicron na makapasok din," he warned.
(So let us be careful, very important, COVID is still there, Delta variant is still there. And Omicron is threatening to enter our borders.)
According to the special adviser, it may not yet be a good time to further lower the alert levels across the country because of the sudden spike in cases.
"Hindi pwedeng ibaba, dapat i-maintain. Or kung tuloy-tuloy ang pagtaas, kasi biglang bumulusok ang kaso, itaas natin to Alert Level 2," he said.
(We cannot downgrade it, it should be maintained. Or if the cases continue to increase, because it suddenly spiked, we will raise it to Alert Level 2.)
"Pero tandaan natin, itong alert level warning system lang 'to. Ang kasama nito talaga, ay yung localized lockdowns," he continued.
(But let us remember, this alert level is just a warning system. It really comes with the localized lockdowns.)
The official said that the government has already issued a list of recommendations to businesses, local government units, and hospitals to prepare them for the spike in cases and the looming threat of the Omicron variant.
Herbosa added that it is also important for people to understand the importance of observing minimum public health standards, even if one is already vaccinated.
"Kailangan magsuot ka pa rin ng mask, at umiwas sa matataong lugar, maghugas ng kamay. Sapagkat yung bakuna, ang ginagawa nun, pag nahawa ka, mild lang ang sintomas mo pero hindi naman talaga niya ipe-prevent na hindi ka mahawa," he explained.
(Masks still need to be worn, crowded places should be avoided, and hands should be washed. Because of the vaccine, what it does is when you get infected, your symptoms will only be mild. But it will not really prevent it to the point when you can’t get the disease.)
"Tandaan natin yun, it does not prevent transmission so kailangan pa rin 'yung pagsuot ng mask at pag-iingat at yun ang binibigay nating reminders ngayong Media Noche, New Year," he added.
(Let us remember, it does not prevent transmission so we need to wear a mask and be careful. And those are our reminders this Media Noche, New Year.)
The government is set to issue the next alert levels for the Philippines this week, which will be implemented starting on the first day of 2022.
