Other COVID-19 Omicron sublineages' entry in Philippines ‘a matter of when’ —Vergeire

It is a matter of when the other sublineages of the more transmissible Omicron variant will enter the country and possibly cause an increase in COVID-19 cases again, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said on Thursday.

Citing the presentation of National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr. during President Rodrigo Duterte’s Talk to the People aired Wednesday, Vergeire said any variant that will enter the country will bring worry to the government as there has also been a spike of COVID-19 cases recorded in other countries like South Africa.

“In any place in the world right now, the specific sublineages of the Omicron variant is spreading and it is causing spike in cases. He’s saying that in any time, it’s a matter as to when it’s going to enter the country and might cause a spike in cases in the country, so we should all be prepared,” she said.

Galvez earlier said experts have noted the Omicron’s sub-variants BA.4 and BA.5 monitored in South Africa and Europe are the emerging variants of concerns that can lead to a global economic downturn and renewed travel restrictions.

He pointed out that due to these variants or sublineages, it is “very imminent” that there will be an increase in COVID-19 cases in the Philippines in the next two to four weeks as predicted by experts.

Both the Department of Health and OCTA Research have issued separate warnings that there might be an increase in infections in the country if there is also a reduced compliance to the minimum public health standards.

Philippine health authorities also detected the first case of Omicron BA.2.12 in Baguio City in a 52-year-old Finnish female who arrived from Finland last April 2.

Vergeire stressed this BA.2.12 Omicron sublineage is more transmissible but could not be as severe as the original Omicron variant that had caused a surge in COVID-19 infections in the Philippines around January this year.

“Based on studies and based from the experts across the globe and WHO, BA.2.12 which is now affecting the United States—93% of their new infections are comprised of this BA.2.12—this is 2.5x more transmissible than the original Omicron variant and what they would have said was it has not shown that it is more severe or produces more severe infections compared to the Omicron variant,” she said.

“The key here would be there should be adequate surveillance, we should be closely monitoring, and all of us should be made aware and be cautious because these variants might come into the country and might cause increase in cases again,” she added.—AOL, GMA News