WHO exec: COVID cases, deaths in Western Pacific have plateaued, but surges still possible

World Health Organization Western Pacific regional director Dr. Takeshi Kasai said Friday the number of COVID-19 infections and deaths in the region have already plateaued.

"While a few countries are still facing surges in many countries of the Western Pacific, the number of COVID-19 cases and the deaths has now decreased and plateaued," Kasai said in a virtual presser.

"There are also more and more people getting vaccinated and pressure on hospital systems in many places has eased. In most parts of the region, the things are trending in the right direction," Kasai added.

The Philippines is among the countries and areas included in the WHO Western Pacific Region.

However, Kasai urged the public not to be complacent as globally, cases have been increasing for consecutive weeks and the number of fatalities due to COVID-19 increased due to "decrease" in the observance of protective measures and because of the Delta variant.

Omicron variant

With the threat of the Omicron coronavirus variant, Kasai also said the public should expect surges in the future as the coronavirus continues to mutate.

He further noted that the COVID-19 pandemic is still "far from over."

"We should not be surprised to see more surges in the future as long as transmission continues, the virus can continue to mutate as the emergence of Omicron demonstrates, reminding us to stay vigilant," Kasai said.

"With the upcoming holiday season, we see more gatherings and movements of people and the Northern hemisphere winter may also bring surges of other diseases like influenza alongside COVID-19," he added.

According to WHO regional emergency director Dr. Babatunde Olowokure, experts continue to monitor Omicron and its effects on the population as there is no information that the variant suggests virulence at this time.

Olowokure also said there is no information yet that suggests that the present COVID-19 vaccines are not effective against the said variant, which is believed to be more transmissible.

As part of the measures of the Philippine government in preventing the entry and spread of the Omicron variant, new testing and quarantine protocols for travelers arriving from countries which are not on the country's red list were imposed. — RSJ, GMA News