OCTA: New COVID-19 cases might hit 4,000 by Eleksyon 2022

The number of new COVID-19 cases a day in the country might hit 4,000 by Eleksyon 2022 on May 9 under a scenario of waning immunity and the entry of new variants, the OCTA Research group said on Thursday.

According to Lei Alviz's report on "24 Oras", the number of new COVID-19 cases might reach 1,000 in Metro Manila during the same period.

Based on the country’s experience, the OCTA said COVID-19 surge occurred every three months due to the new variants in the country.

“May nakita tayong uptick in some regions sa Pilipinas especially siguro yung medyo mababa yung vaccine coverage that is why important patuloy natin ang vaccine coverage at saka yung vaccinations and pagpapaboosters,” OCTA fellow Dr. Guido David said.

(We have seen an uptick in some regions in the Philippines, especially those in low vaccine coverage that is why it is important that we continue the vaccine coverage and then the vaccinations and inoculation of booster shots.)

The head of the Vaccine Expert Panel, on the other hand, said the country needed an immunity wall more than herd immunity to address the possible spread of new COVID-19 variants.

“Right now because of these variants nga ang ating tinitignan ay yung immunity wall ng lahat. Noong dati we are talking about 80%, now we want it more than 90% to 95%,” VEP Chair Dr. Nina Gloriani said.

(Right now because of these variants, what we are looking at is everyone's immunity wall. Earlier, we were talking about 80%, now we want it more than 90% to 95%.)

Joey Concepcion, the presidential adviser for entrepreneurship, proposed mobility restrictions for people who have yet to get their booster shots against COVID-19.

He also proposed incentives for individuals who have gotten their booster shots.

The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday registered 278 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the nationwide caseload to 3,680,514. —Richa Noriega/NB, GMA News