The Davao City Covid-19 Task Force has allayed fears of an Omicron variant in the city, saying, the Department of Health (DoH) has not detected the newest coronavirus variant and continues to record a low number of Covid cases.
During the Covid-19 Alert Program over Davao City Disaster Radio, Covid-19 Task Force Spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser said, “Medyo happy ta karon kay nagpadayon nga mubo ang atong cases. Nagpadayon nga mubo ang atong positivity rate ug wala pa-gyud tay case kadtong new variant (We are happy that we continue to have low number of cases and the positivity rate is low and we do not have a case of the new variant),” Schlosser said.
Schlosser, however, said the people should not be complacent and should continue following the minimum public health measures such as the wearing of face masks, social distancing, hand hygiene, and getting vaccinated against the coronavirus.
She said the situation depends on the discipline of the people in the following of minimum public health standards which is wearing of face mask, social distancing.
“If we can avoid unnecessary gatherings, mas labing maayo, and then [we should practice] also our hand hygiene, and also avail bakuna (It is better if we can avoid unnecessary gathering, practice our hand hygiene, and also avail vaccination),” she said.
According to Schlosser, the city’s positivity rate this week is 0.5 percent and the total number of active cases is 99 during the past 14 days. She said the majority of the cases are mild.
“We do not have many cases of death in the past few weeks. A lot of these are asymptomatic and on their way to recovery,” Schlosser said.
The DoH on Wednesday confirmed two travelers to the Philippines have Covid cases of Omicron or (B. 1.1.529) variant and they are currently isolated in a facility managed by the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ).
One of the two travelers is a Returning Overseas Filipino (ROF) who arrived from Japan on December 1, 2021, via Philippine Airlines flight number PR 0427 whose sample was collected on December 5, 2021.
The positive result of the passenger was released on December 7 and the case was admitted to an isolation facility on the same date. The individual is currently asymptomatic but had symptoms of colds and cough upon arrival.
The other case is a Nigerian national who arrived from Nigeria on November 30, 2021, via Oman Air with flight number WY 843. A sample was collected on December 6, 2021, and the result was released on December 7, 2021. The passenger was then admitted to an isolation facility on the same date. His current status is also asymptomatic.
The DOH, the University of the Philippines – Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC), and the University of the Philippines – National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH) report that two imported cases of the Omicron (B. 1.1.529) variant of concern were detected from the 48 samples sequenced on December 14, 2021.
Aside from these two Omicron cases, there were 33 positive for the Delta (B. 1.617.2) variant while 13 had no lineage assigned. The latest sequencing run was composed of samples from 21 Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROFs), one foreign national, and 26 local cases from areas with case clusters.
The DOH is determining possible close contacts among co-passengers during the flights of these two cases and is verifying the test results and health status of all passengers of these flights to determine if there are other confirmed cases or passengers who became symptomatic after arrival.
The DoH has advised travelers who have arrived in the Philippines through these flights may call the DOH COVID-19 Hotlines at (02) 8942 6843 or 1555, or their respective LGUs to report their status.
DOH assured that they are working with the local government units for them to conduct active case finding and ensure that COVID-19 cases are immediately isolated, tested and contact traced and that eligible samples for sequencing are submitted.
With the detection of the imported cases of the Omicron variant, the DoH also urges everyone to adhere to the minimum public standards and properly wear face masks, frequently wash hands with soap and water or alcohol, observe physical distancing, ensure proper ventilation, and avoid crowded areas.
During this holiday season, the public is also encouraged to avoid holding mass gatherings to curb the transmission of COVID-19. The DOH has also urged unvaccinated individuals to get vaccinated during the National Vaccination Days for their protection against COVID-19. CIO
