The COVID-19 Delta variant is the “perfect storm” for unvaccinated people in our society, a health official warned Friday, July 23.
Western Visayas needs to vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate to ward off the Delta variant that is the most dangerous and transmissible form of the coronavirus to date, Dr. Cynthia Palmes Saloma, executive director of the Philippine Genome Center, said.
Saloma was one of a battery of DOH officials who briefed the WV media on the COVID-19 situation in the country and region in an online press conference.
She also said there is a plan to put up a genome center at the UP Visayas in Iloilo to help detect new COVID-19 variants in the region.
Dr. Althea De Guzman, DOH Epidemiology Bureau OIC director, said although only two Delta cases were detected in Western Visayas in May, officials should act as if the variant has already attacked their community to ensure that deterrents are in place.
She said the first COVID-19 Alpha variant was detected in Western Visayas of February 18, Beta variant on March 2, and the Delta variant on May 27.
If the highly contagious Delta variant spreads in the Philippines it could overwhelm the country’s health care system, De Guzman said.
Dr. Anna Lisa Ong, DOH Pediatric Infectious Diseases Specialist, said to prevent the spread of new variants local government units should strengthen border control, monitoring of endorsed arrivals, and the implementation of localized and granular lockdowns.
There is also a need to increase health care capacity to be ready for a surge, enhance genomic biosurveillance, and to strengthen the Prevent-Detect-Isolate-Treat-Reintegrate strategy, she added.
Ong also stressed the need for strong compliance of minimum health standards, especially on wearing face masks and shields, physical distancing, and no social and mass gatherings, which are potential superspreader events.
“It is very, very important that we should get vaccinated, “she said.
She said in countries with low vaccination rates there have been high deaths due to the Delta variant.
The DOH is prioritizing the vaccination of as close to 100 percent of individuals belonging to the A2 and A3 categories – senior citizens and persons with comorbidities, so if they are hit by the Delta variant they will not end up in hospitals, suffer severe COVID-19 and even die, Ong said.*