Expert: Surge in COVID-19 cases expected two weeks after May 9 elections

A surge in COVID-19 cases was expected two weeks after the country held its national and local elections last May 9, an infectious disease expert said Saturday.

"Yes ito na 'yun, kasi ang [forecast] is one to two weeks after those events, 'yung mga pagtitipon, mga rally. So normal talaga 'yan, tataas ang mga kaso because of those superspreader events," Dr. Rontgene Solante said in a Super Radyo DZBB interview.

(Yes, this is it, because the forecast is one to two weeks after those events like gatherings, the rallies. So it is normal that the cases will increase because of those superspreader events.)

"Pero hopefully, mag-ingat pa rin tayo at sana hindi mas mataas pa sa na-experience natin noong January," Solante added.

(But hopefully, let’s still be careful and we expect that the surge will not be higher than what we experienced in January.)

However, he also pointed out that the increase in COVID-19 cases will not affect the hospitalization rate, as cases were expected to be mild.

"So ngayon nakikita natin sa Omicron BA 2.12, 'yung mga naaapektuhan, ang mga sintomas lang, sipon, lagnat, konting ubo. Usually three to five days nawawala ang mga sintomas. So expectations namin, hindi ito kagaya ng last year na marami ang nagpupunta sa hospital."

(From what we see in the Omicron BA 2.12, those who are affected, only manifest symptoms of cold, fever, and a little cough. Usually, the symptoms disappear after three to five days. So we expect that it will not be like last year when many went to the hospital.)

Solante added that the rainy condition could also contribute to the spread of COVID-19.

"Isa rin 'yan sa nakikita natin. Kasi kapag halimbawang umuulan, tag-lamig na, ang mangyayari niyan, marami ang tao nasa loob ng bahay, nasa loob ng isang room because of the condition outside, tag-ulan. So kung nandoon ka sa loob ng room tapos merong isang positive roon, mas mataas ang risk na magkahawaan dahil sa room marami ang tao at interaction. Hindi kagaya ng summer na lumalabas dahil mainit," he said.

(This is also one of the things we see. For example, when it rains and it is cold, a lot of people stay inside the house, in a room because of the condition outside. If you are in a room and then there is a positive case there, the risk of infection is higher because there are a lot of people and interactions. It’s not like summer where people go outside because of the heat.)

Solante previously said that if no surge occurred two weeks after the national and local elections, this meant that protection against COVID-19 remained high in the country. — DVM, GMA News