DOH: Detection of Omicron subvariant BF.7 should not be a cause for concern

The Department of Health (DOH) said Tuesday that the detection of Omicron subvariant BF.7 in the Philippines should not be a cause for concern, but something that would raise more vigilance for Filipinos.

At a press conference, DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said the BF.7, which is considered a sublineage of the Omicron subvariant BA.5, shows to be “more transmissible and more immune evasive,” based on evidence.

“Pero wala pa ring ebidensya na nagsasabi na itong BF.7 na ito ay mas nagko-cause ng severe and critical infections,” she said.

(But there is still no evidence that says that this BF.7 causes more severe and critical infections.)

Emphasizing that the coronavirus will already stay and continue to mutate, Vergeire said that what the public should focus on is getting vaccinated and continuing compliance to minimum public health standards.

“Sa lahat ng suvbariants na pumasok dito, it’s not supposed to be a concern, but it's supposed to be something that we be cautious on and something that we become more vigilant because itong mga subvariants na ito, hindi ito matatapos because we are living with the virus already. The virus is here to stay,” she said.

Currently, there are four cases of the Omicron subvariant BF.7 that have been detected in the country, according to the DOH.

Despite this, Vergeire said the government will not implement another generalized lockdown.

Holiday celebration

Further, Vergeire said Filipinos are “very cautious” and many still opt to wear face masks during the holidays despite the eased COVID-19 restrictions.

She said the DOH will know after 14 days if there will be an increase in COVID-19 infections due to holiday gatherings, but stressed she believes the cases “will not be the same as the one we’ve had before” even if there will indeed be an uptick.

“As I’ve said, ngayon mas better equipped tayo. Ang ating bansa, ang ating mga kababayan, bakunado tayo. Mataas ang bakunahan. Marami sa atin ay sumusunod talaga pa rin sa ating minimum public health standards,” Vergire said.

(As I've said, we are now better equipped. Many of us are vaccinated, and the vaccination rate is high. Many of us are still following our minimum public health standards.)

“So comparing it to before, I don’t think na magkakaron tayo ng mas mataas na mga kaso compared to what we’ve had before during the time na wala pa tayong bakuna sa ating bansa,” she added.

(I don't think that we will have higher cases compared to what we've had before during the time that we still don't have vaccines in our country.)

Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. (PHAPI) president Dr. Jose Rene de Grano, however, said Monday that there is a possibility that new COVID-19 infections will increase again considering the recent detection of Omicron subvariant BF.7, and the gathering of people over Christmas. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News