The Davao City COVID-19 Task Force urged Dabawenyos anew to get their two-dose primary series and booster shots amid the new and highly-infectious Omicron subvariant in the country and the seven recorded deaths in the city from November 20 to 26.
BQ.1, a subvariant of the Omicron variant, has been detected.
“Of all the COVID-19 variants, the Omicron subvariants mas paspas ug daghan pwede ma-infect that’s the reason why gintagaan weight nato ang vaccination (Of all the COVID-19 variants, the Omicron subvariants are more transmissible and can infect more people, which is why we are putting weight on the vaccination),” Davao City COVID-19 Task Force spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser said, during the COVID-19 Alert program aired Wednesday, November 30, over 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR).
She said that the Omicron is already more infectious than other variants, and its subvariants are even more infectious.
She also said, “Mao na gina-emphasize gyud kinahanglan ang bakuna ug booster doses because the virus continues to mutate and every time it mutates., makatakod sya (That is why it is emphasized that the vaccine and booster doses are needed because the virus continues to mutate and every time it mutates, it is contagious).
Those who live with high-risk individuals at home, according to her, should all the more get themselves vaccinated and boostered.
She said that the city’s economy and people’s activities have returned to pre-pandemic, and restrictions have eased, the higher the risk there is for Dabawenyos to contract COVID-19.
The city health official said, “Duna gyud risk of getting infected and ang subvariants dali makatakod. Kung wala ka’y bakuna, dakong tsansa nga isa ka sa maangol. Yes, vaccination doesn’t promise nga di ta ma-infect, ang promise sa vaccine, we’ll be able to have a good chance of not dying from COVID-19 kay protektahan ta sa severe and critical type of the disease (There is a risk of getting infected and the subvariants are easily contagious. If you don’t have the vaccine, there’s a good chance you’ll be one of those. Yes, vaccination does not promise that we will not be infected, but we’ll be able to have a good chance of not dying from COVID-19 because we will be protected from the severe and critical type of the disease).”
Schlosser said one’s behavior and risk assessment when attending social activities or going to crowded places are vital, considering that social distancing has already been lifted and face mask is voluntary indoors and outdoors, except in medical and health facilities.
From November 20 to 26, at least 155 COVID-19 cases and seven deaths were recorded. Of the seven COVID-19-related deaths, two were from the 60 years old and above age group, three from the 50-59 age bracket, and one each from the 40-49 and 30-39 population age groups.
Of the seven deaths, three were vaccinated but did not receive any boosters while the other four were unvaccinated.
“Vulnerable tang tanan mamatay sa COVID-19. Kung wala ta’y proteksyon, mas daghan sa seniors, immunocompromised, and persons with comorbidities kung wala ta’y proteksyon. The truth of the matter, naa gyud mamatay regardless of age. Therefore, magpabakuna tang tanan (We are all vulnerable to death from COVID-19 if we are not protected. There are more seniors, immunocompromised, and persons with comorbidities if we don’t have protection. The truth of the matter, someone will die regardless of age. Therefore, let’s all get vaccinated),” Schlosser added. CIO
