Salvaña on COVID-19 case increase amid lockdown: Delta variant is like a tsunami

The number of COVID-19 cases in the country is expected to increase because the COVID-19 Delta variant moves like a tsunami in terms of infecting people, an infectious disease expert and government adviser said Friday.

Dr. Edsel Salvaña of the Department of Health (DOH) Technical Advisory Group made the statement in light of the increase in new COVID-19 cases recorded per day ranging from 12,000 to as much as 18,000 the past week even if Metro Manila has been placed under lockdown from August 6 to 20.

“Tataas at tataas talaga ang kaso (cases will really increase) because the Delta variant is two to three times more infectious,” Salvaña said during the Laging Handa briefing.

“Delta variant is like a tsunami, mabilis talaga ang pagkalat (it rapidly spreads),” he added.

Salvaña, however, stressed that the nation is not helpless because COVID-19 vaccination is ongoing and getting vaccinated will boost protection on top of compliance with minimum public health standards such as social distancing, wearing of face mask and face shield.

“Vaccination is our last line of defense on top of compliance with minimum public health standards because vaccination reduces the risk of an individual ending up in a hospital due to COVID-19,” he said.

“Vaccination would reduce severe COVID-19 cases needing hospitalization by 90%. If we have 3,000 severe cases without the vaccine, it will be reduced to 300 if more people get vaccinated,” he added.

“We help our health care system by being vaccinated against COVID-19,” Salvaña further said.

Around 13 million Filipinos are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 so far, way behind the target of vaccinating 76.3 million Filipinos by the end of the year to achieve herd immunity against COVID-19.—AOL, GMA News