Uptick in COVID-19 cases in Manila noted; expert warns of possible effect of new subvariant ---- Jose Carretero, ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- Manila City Mayor Honey Lacuna on Sunday confirmed that a slight increase of COVID-19 cases has been observed last week in the city. A total of 79 positive cases were recorded, according to Lacuna. Most of the positive cases were of mild symptoms and asymptomatic. Three of them are in the hospital. Lacuna says the number is not yet alarming, but nonetheless, the City Health Department is now strictly monitoring the cases. Should there be a surge in COVID-19 cases, Lacuna said the city would again make wearing of face masks mandatory. “We might, in the coming weeks kung talaga dere-deretso pa or kung magkakaroon po ng surge, we might opt to go back to the mandatory use of face mask. Kasi may ordinance naman po kami patungkol diyan na pupwede naman po nating i- amend, pero wala pa naman pong plano sa ngayon kasi hindi naman po alarming pa yung pagtaas” she said. One of the reasons for the increase in cases, according to Lacuna, was the long Holy Week break where many residents had traveled in and out of the country. “Maaaring yun po ang rason kasi talaga po marami pong nanggaling sa pagbabakasyon both local and international and we all know naman na hindi na po strict ang pagamit ng face mask sa mga lugar na pinupuntahan o madalas na napupuntahan ngayon, so maaaring yun po ang dahilan kung bakit po may uptick ng cases po," Lacuna said. With this, Lacuna encouraged residents to wear face masks, especially in crowded places to contain possible surge of the virus. Meanwhile, public health expert Dr. Tony Leachon said the positivity rate of COVID-19 in the country has increased to 7 percent. This is higher compared to the less than 5 percent benchmark of the World Health Organization. With the increasing cases, wearing of face mask is necessary, Leachon added. This will also prevent spread of the new sub-variant, identified as subvariant 1.16 or subvariant Arcturus. The said sub-variant has not yet detected in the Philippines but Leachon said there is a possibility that it will enter the country. “Hindi pa siya nakakapasok kasi wala pang nire-report ang Department of Health, pero hindi ako magtataka na makakapasok kasi according to WHO highly infective siya. Ibig sabihin madaling makahawa. Number 2, highly pathogenic, madaling mag cause ng sakit at ito daw ay more infectious than the old [sub-variant], yung huling pinaka-infectious," he said. Symptoms of Arcturus sub-variant, according to Leachon, include fever, breathing difficulty, runny nose, sore throat and conjunctivitis or sore eyes. Compared to the Delta variant, sub-variant Arcturus is not highly threatening. But this sub-variant is highly contagious, which is why Leachon said Filipinos must not be complacent, especially those with comorbidities. The variant could also lead to long COVID. “Huwag tayong maging kampante tsaka yung long COVID, mahirap. 'Yung long COVID, common 'yan sa ordinary na tao, mga 20-40 percent. Kahit magaling kana may sintomas ka pa ring mararamdaman dahil dito," Leachon explained. For Leachon, Filipinos need not to panic yet, because some of them had been vaccinated already while some had been infected with the virus that boosted their immunity. But to ensure safety, wearing of face mask is still necessary. It is also important that young adults ranging from 18 years old up to 50 years old must get the second booster dose. “I think napapanahon na rin kasi baka nag wane na yung immunity natin at ang pagaaral 6-12 months humihina ang ating immunity,” Leachon said. Leachon suggested the Department of Health should take advantage of the dry season to vaccinate more Filipinos in preparation for the coming rainy season were cases of COVID-19 is expected to increase. An uptick of COVID-19 in some parts of the country has been observed. For the WHO, it is important to closely monitor the number of COVID fatalities and if the capacity of hospitals for covid patients has already been exhausted according to Dr. Babatunde Olowokure, the emergency director of WHO Western Pacific. “It is not a concern but we continue to monitor, we continue to look at the severity and if we do see an increase, of course, we will be in touch with the DOH and to see how we can support, “Dr. Babatunde Olowokure said. The Philippine Health Department meanwhile, has not yet issued a statement on the Arcturus sub-variant.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

PCG: China’s bullying in West Philippine Sea undermines international law --- Ghio Ong - The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines — Letting China sustain its aggression in the West Philippine Sea would make other countries doubt the strength of international law currently being asserted by the Philippines, Commodore Jay Tarriela of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said. “Allowing China to blatantly disregard the established rules-based order threatens the very foundation that we all depend on,” he wrote in a post on X last Tuesday. He added, “If we permit this, countries worldwide may forget why this order was created in the first place. Nations could begin to doubt the significance of adhering to international law if powerful bullies can easily violate it.” Tarriela also said defiance of other countries to a rules-based order would result in the prevalence of cruelty. He wrote, “This could lead us back to a time when might makes right, undermining the global structures that keep human greed, savagery and barbarism in check. Such a scenario would not only invite challenges from aggressive ...
Read more

China ships maintain presence in key West Philippine Sea areas --- Michael Punongbayan - The Philippine Star

STAR / Michael Varcas MANILA, Philippines — While Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) have decreased in number, they have maintained a presence in three key land features where naval and coast guard ships have intensified operations in the past seven days, according to the Philippine Navy. Latest monitoring by the Philippine Navy showed armed ships of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) maintaining a menacing presence around the grounded BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, Panatag Shoal and Escoda Shoal. According to the Philippine Navy, there are 17 Chinese military vessels and 28 China Coast Guard (CCG) boats spotted inside the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) between Sept. 23 and 30, or one vessel more than in the previous week Sept.17-23. Five of the warships were seen roaming around the vicinity of Escoda Shoal, along with 10 CCG vessels and 12 maritime militia vessels (MMVs). There are also two PLAN ships in Ayungin Shoal as well as 10 CCG boats and 12...
Read more

Social media seen as cause of rising intermarriages --- Helen Flores - The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) sees social media as the main reason for the rising number of Filipinos marrying or becoming partners of foreign nationals. In 2022, the CFO recorded 6,854 marriages or partnerships with foreign nationals, a 40.1 percent increase from the 4,891 “intermarriages” recorded in 2021. “First of all, what we see in the increase in the marriage rate of Filipinos or Filipinos with foreign partners is because of social media, (that) is number one; matchings; letters, introduction of their friends,” CFO chairperson Romulo Arugay said at the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon public briefing yesterday. Arugay said the agency has been registering a high number of intermarriages since 2007, but the figures went down during the COVID-19 pandemic. From over 6,500 Filipinos who married foreign nationals, only 600 are men, he said. Most of them are married to Americans, Japanese, Germans, Canadians and Australians, Arugay said. Arugay warned Fi...
Read more