8 close contacts of 2 Omicron cases identified, 7 tested negative — DOH

The Department of Health (DOH) has identified eight close contacts of the Philippines’ first two cases of the Omicron variant, of which seven tested negative for COVID-19, the Department of Health announced Thursday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said one was the close contact of the 48-year-old returning overseas Filipino from Japan while 7 are close contacts of the 37-year-old Nigerian national from Nigeria.

The close contact of the ROF had tested negative on December 4.

“So you might be wondering why there is only one close contact for our 48-year-old male from Japan. It’s because he was seated in a business class and it was just one passenger with him in this business class section,” Vergeire said at a media briefing.

Meanwhile, six out of the seven close contacts of the Nigerian national tested negative and completed their mandatory quarantine.

The test results of the remaining close contact are still being verified.

“So again, the reason why there are just seven close contacts because the foreign national sat at the very end of the place. So we only counted those in front of him and on his side,” Vergeire said.

According to Vergeire, close contacts are identified by counting four seats in every direction from the positive case.

“Ngayon para naman sa close contact, ang ating epidemiologic identification of close contacts when you are in a plane is to count four seats in front of you, four seats on your left, four seats on your right, and four seats sa likod mo,” she said.

(For the close contacts, our epidemiologic identification of close contacts when in a plane is to count four seats in front of you, four seats on your left, four seats on your right, and four seats behind you.)

Meanwhile, the samples of the 2 Omicron cases will be collected today for their repeat RT-PCR test. 

Travel restrictions

At the same time, Vergeire said it is not rational to implement travel restrictions over all countries that have detected the Omicron variant, even those with only single cases.

This was proposed by Former health adviser Dr. Tony Leachon to prevent the transmission of the variant in the Philippines.

“As I’ve said a while ago, we balance health and economy here. We cannot close our borders to the rest of the world na nagkaroon lang ng isang Omicron variant sa isang bansa,” Vergeire said.

(As I’ve said a while ago, we balance health and economy here. We cannot close our borders to the rest of the world that have detected a single case.)

As of December 15, a total of 79 countries have detected the Omicron variant, of which 34 have suspected or confirmed local transmission.

She said the government must determine how it will affect the economy and foreign relations.

“But of course public health pa rin lagi ang priority natin pero sa tingin natin, sa ngayon, it is not rational for us to close our borders to countries na meron lang kahit isa,” she said.

(Of course, public health remains to be the priority, but right now, it is not rational for us to close our borders to countries with just one.)

Vergeire said what is important is for the Philippines to impose bans on countries with confirmed local transmissions of the variant.

She also said that current protocols are enough after Leachon proposed to extend the quarantine to 21 days.

“Base sa siyensya at ebidensya na kanilang pinagaralan, itong current protocols natin ay enough for now para mapigilan natin ang pagpasok nitong mga variants na ito,” she said.

(Based on science and evidence, our current protocols are enough to prevent the entrance of these variants.)

“But of course… we always say our policies are evolving dahil po we adapt it to the day-to-day experiences that we have. So kung darating tayo sa punto na kailangan baguhin ang protocol we will do that,” she added.

(But of course… we always say that our policies are evolving because we adapt to the day-to-day experiences that we have. So if we reach the point where we need to change the protocol, we will do so.)

Don’t panic

Vergeire also said there is no need to panic but stressed that the public should not be complacent.

“We do not need to panic, we do not need to fear, because lahat po ng dumating na ating mga kababayan, lahat po ng dumating kasama sa eroplano nitong galing sa Japan at ito pong foreign national, nakapag quarantine silang lahat ng limang araw.,” she said.

(We do not need to panic, we do not need to fear because everyone that arrived underwent the five-day quarantine.)

“Tinest po sila bago sila umuwi, meaning the chances na meron silang sakit at umuwi sa community ay napakaliit na po dahil nagawa po natin ‘yung guidelines na dapat natin sundin,” she added.

(They were tested before they went home, meaning the chances that they are sick are very low because we implemented the guidelines.) — RSJ, GMA News