Experts stress vaccinations, detection, four-door strategy vs Delta variant

An infectious disease expert on Saturday evening emphasized the importance of implementing the "four-door strategy" to control the spread of the more infectious Delta variant.

In a live Cabinet briefing, Dr. Anna Ong-Lim of the Health Department's Technical Advisory Group recommended the government continue implementing Door 1 and Door 2 of the strategy.

“Despite the data showing that there is already local transmission, border control continues to be a very critical component that we hope will continue to slow entry of more individuals who are positive not just for Delta but also for other variants of concern,” Lim said.

She also emphasized that, with the confirmation of the local transmission of the Delta variant, "we need to work on the premise that every case that’s now detected is Delta so that we can act accordingly.”

Disease surveillance, enhanced through whole genome sequencing, ensures immediate detection of illnesses signals.

At present, the Philippines has detected a total of 64 cases of the variant.

To prevent further increase, she said local government units must also continue to monitor individuals who have already finished their 10-day facility quarantine to ensure that they will finish their mandatory 14-day period.

“Pag nakauwi, hindi ibig sabihin na puwede nang gumala ‘yung ating traveler kasi hindi pa po tapos ‘yung ating 14 days,” she said.

Further, she said LGUs must also strictly implement localized lockdowns.

Meanwhile, Lim said that authorities must also ensure the readiness of the country’s health care system, regardless of the current quarantine classification.

“Hindi po ‘yung mag e-escalate po tayo atsaka pa lang naghahabol. Dapat palaging ready ang ating health care capacity. There should be sufficient PTMF and ICU bed capacity,” she said.

“We’re calling on hospitals to increase their COVID-19 bed capacity to 30% for the private hospitals and 50% for the public hospitals to ensure that should a surge happen, we would have enough beds available,” she added.

The latest data from the Department of Health (DOH) showed that 56% of the intensive care unit beds nationwide are in use while 38% of the mechanical ventilators are occupied.

In the National Capital Region, 45% of the ICU beds are being utilized by patients while 36% of the mechanical ventilators are in use.

The Philippines has reported 1,543,281 confirmed cases, of which 1,461,749 have recovered and 27,131 have died.

Meanwhile, another Technical Working Group member, Dr. Edsel Salvana, emphasized the need to accelerate vaccinations, and adherence to basic health protocols to counter the Delta variant.

"In the short term, we should continue to vaccinate as fast as possible, use our face masks and face shields, and hopefully, we can avoid a surge," said Salvana. — DVM, GMA News