Octa Research fellow Dr. Guido David on Tuesday, Aug. 9 said the COVID-19 wave may extend until the last months of 2022.

“Sinabi lang natin na baka umabot sa ber months, umabot ng September or October yung prolonged COVID-19 wave. By November, baka naman pababa na, hopefully by December mawala na,” he explained in an interview during DZRH’s Damdaming Bayan.

David said they initially expected that the wave would last only for about two months.

However, two months have passed, and he claimed that the country hasn’t reached its peak yet.

“Katulad na nangyari sa South Africa na may Omicron BA 5 sila don at dalawang buwan lang wala na. Tayo dalawang buwan na, wala pa tayo sa rurok. So mukhang baka umabot tayo sa at least 4 months na wave. Medyo matagal tagal ang wave na ito,” David said.

But he asserted that the current hospitalization rate is not high and it is manageable and in control.

“Hindi naman natin kailangan mag-lockdown tulad ng sabi ng Pangulo. Pero ayun nga, may nahahawaan pa din at kailangan talaga patuloy ang pag-iingat natin,” he added.

The Omicron B.A. 5 is the predominant sub-variant that is causing the increase in the country’s cases, David said.

Alongside, the research fellow said the low COVID-19 booster rate among Filipinos also contributes to the rising cases.

“Sa Southeast Asia, isa tayo sa may pinakamababang booster coverage at nanawagan nga ang pangulo natin na pataasin nga ang booster coverage in cooperation with the local government units (LGU),” he said.

David explained that even if there are many Filipino who were vaccinated last year, the immunity provided by the vaccine may become weaker.

“So mas maganda na magpa-booster tayo. Pinapakita naman sa siyensya na kapag magpa-booster tayo, at least yung first booster, malaki yung maitutulong para pataasin ulit yung ating resistensya laban sa COVID,” David added.

He said it is recommended to receive at least one COVID-19 booster shot.

The second booster shot for the general public hasn’t been approved yet but it is already administered to seniors, persons with comorbidities, and frontliners, David added.

About 16,658,365 million Filipinos have received a booster shot, according to the data from the Department of Health (DOH) on Aug 8.

As of Tuesday, Aug. 9, DOH recorded 37,942 active COVID-19 cases.