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PH COVID-19, manageable – expert
By Nidz Godino
"The fact na wala tayong signals na mapupuno ang mga hospitals and in fact, if you look at the data maski tumataas na ang mga kaso, hindi rin tumataas ang bilang ng namamatay, hindi rin tumataas ang nagsesevere COVID, at hindi rin tumataas ang bilang ng naoospital," infectious disease expert Dr. Rontgene Solante said in public briefing COVID-19 cases in the Philippines are still manageable despite slight increase in positivity rate.
Solante explained country is still in stable condition despite recent increase in cases.
"These are good signs, why…that means even if there is an increase in cases medyo kaya ng katawan natin , Delta was variant of concern…in short, in general, our cases are manageable and it has not been causing disruption in our life," he stressed.
Data from OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David showed Philippines' positivity rate or percentage of people who were found positive for COVID-19 among total number of individuals tested went up from 11.7% on April 25, to 12.9% on April 26.
Solante also said rising cases may be possible due to recent detection of first case of Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16, dubbed "Arcturus."
"Based on World Health Organization classification, itong XBB.1.16 has growth advantage so ibig sabihin mas mabilis siyang dumapo sa katawan natin because of mutations sa spike protein, ibig sabihin mas mataas ang hawahan at pangalawa in populations na maski nakatanggap na ng bakuna it can still bind to our tissues, so ibig sabihin pwede pa rin tayong madapuan ng infection, reason why in some countries na mayroong XBB.1.16 nakita doong tumataas bahagya yung kaso. .. importante lang dito I think in those countries na maraming kasong nakikita there were no signals na this virus or variant of interest ay pwedeng magcause ng severe COVID. .. most cases are mild," he said.
Department of Transportation said due to rising COVID-19 cases across the country, face mask mandates would continue to be strictly enforced in all trains of Light Rail Transit (LRT), Metro Rail Transit (MRT), and Philippine National Railways (PNR).
DOTr Assistant Secretary for Railways Jorjette Aquino said face-mask wearing would remain mandatory inside trains as preventive measure against COVID-19.
Aquino added face-mask wearing was also mandatory inside LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3 stations. However, policy becomes optional at PNR stations as these were open-air spaces.
"Our medical professionals in railways sector stressed risk of COVID-19 transmission remains present in our trains as they are enclosed spaces, security personnel deployed in all of our stations and trains help ensure policy is strictly enforced," Aquino explained.
While millions of Filipinos have received their COVID-19 vaccine, Aquino urged riding public to remain vigilant and encouraged them to protect their fellow commuters by wearing masks.
"Even if you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you can still become infected and potentially spread virus to others," the rail sector official said.
Aquino also encouraged riding public to get their second booster shot of COVID-19 vaccine, stressing that booster shots can significantly increase immunity against virus.
DOH recently issued new guidelines on administration of second booster shot to general adult population through local government units.
"As explained by medical professionals, these booster shots are designed to help maintain level of protection against virus, especially as new variants emerge," Aquino said.
Iloilo and Bacolod cities have once again implemented mandatory wearing of face mask in several areas amid COVID-19 pandemic.
In Iloilo City, face mask use is mandatory inside establishments and public utility vehicles (PUVs), while in Bacolod City it is implemented only inside PUVs.
Mandatory face mask use was ordered by two cities' respective local governments.
National government, meanwhile, is not keen on coming up with same order, but DOH is urging public to assess for themselves when and where they should put their face mask on.
Case from Iloilo province and was asymptomatic, and has already recovered, according to DOH.
DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said state of public health emergency could be lifted if country's COVID-19 cases were manageable and hospitals were ready.
"Sinasabi natin before we can be able to lift this public health emergency kailangan aside from our cases our manageable, our hospitals are ready, kailangan yung policy environment so they can be able to prepare,..kasi doon sa mga policies natin for public health emergency may mga kaakibat na polisiya na kapag nilift natin hindi naman magagawa yung response katulad nung authority ng director general to issue out emergency use authority for our newer technologies para dito sa COVID-19 hindi natin yun magagawa pagnilift so lahat yan kailangan pinaghahandaan natin,..so ngayon ginagawa na natin yung transitioning so that eventually kapag nakita nating manageable yung kaso naayos na natin yung mga policies na kailangan natin we can recommend to the President, but not yet," Vergeire said in an ambush interview.
Vergeire earlier said country may only declare an end to state of public health emergency due to COVID-19 if infections and hospital utilization remained manageable.
United States on April 11 officially ended its COVID-19 national health emergency after more than three years.
Then-President Rodrigo Duterte declared state of public health emergency in the Philippines in March 2020, onset of pandemic.
Under Proclamation 922, state of public health emergency would remain in force and effect until lifted or withdrawn by the President.
Meanwhile,the DOH OIC is not recommending ban water activities in Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro amid recent oil spill from sunken motor tanker.
"Right now ang affected pa lang at ang tinitest natin yung may mga nasa shorelines naapektuhan ng oil spill… Puerto Galera is not included among those pero nagkaroon sila ng random sampling ng test across different areas where Puerto Galera is being included, pero hindi pa conclusive nga kaya hindi pa natin masasabi…pero ang masasabi ko lang basta lumabas yung test at napakita talaga that there is this contamination ng mga chemical na nakikita natin which is harmful for the body kahit siguro pangalawang test pa lang hindi namin papayagan ang public to use the water or to consume the water," Vergeire said.
Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco had said Puerto Galera continued to be unaffected by recent oil spill, adding that it remained open to tourists worldwide.
MT Princess Empress was carrying 900,000 liters of industrial fuel oil when it sank due to strong waves in Oriental Mindoro on February 28.
According to Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the motor tanker sank 400 meters into the ocean, which was too deep for divers to reach.
University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI) earlier said oil slick from sunken motor tanker may reach Puerto Galera and Batangas.
Frasco said oil spill affected 66 tourist attractions and 1,400 tourism workers.
Vergeire advised those who swam in contaminated water to wash with soap, monitor for skin rashes, and consult their doctors.
"If you were able to ingest some of water sasakit yung tyan mo magsusuka may loose bowel movement and kung inhalation ang nangyari doon ka lang sa shore tapos parang nalanghap mo yung ganyang contaminants tapos sasakit sa ulo o kaya parang nahihilo ka, so pagganyan may mga sintomas" she said.
Vergeire earlier said number of people who have become sick due to effects of oil spill in Oriental Mindoro had increased to 191, based on data from March 2 to 20.
She said only one patient was reported to have been hospitalized due to aggravated asthma attack during first week of oil spill in the province.
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