Delta strain of Covid-19 ‘still around’: Palace

MANILA – Despite studies showing the Omicron variant to be a “milder strain” of Covid-19, Malacañang reminded the public Monday not to be complacent as other more lethal strains of the coronavirus, such as Delta, continue to exist.

Acting presidential spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles made this remark after the Philippines saw 4,600 new Covid-19 cases on Sunday — the highest recorded in over two months.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) earlier raised the alert level status in Metro Manila to Alert Level 3 until January 15 amid an increase in Covid-19 cases and the detection of 14 local Omicron cases.

“We’re focusing so much on Omicron, we’re forgetting that Delta is still around. Right now, nagspe-speculate tayo na ‘Omicron na siguro ‘to, ang taas ang bilang’ (we are speculating that ‘This is probably Omicron since there are high numbers). We have to remember Delta is still around so don’t forget, don’t say ‘Ah, Omicron okay lang ‘yan kasi Omicron sabi nila is milder (Ah, it’s okay, this is probably Omicron because they say it’s milder),’” he said in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel’s Headstart.

Citing data from the Department of Health (DOH), he said Covid-19 cases peaked mid-December.

“We’re seeing that many of the symptoms’ onset actually came about mga (around) Dec. 20, 21, 22, 23, 24,25, 26…DOH is saying that Dec. 20 onwards, dito na nagkaroon ng pagtaas (this was where we saw an increase). Exposure should have happened earlier — five to seven days before,” he said.

Nograles enjoined the public “relearn” the restrictions under Alert Level 3 after being used to the more lax protocols under the Alert Level 2 status.

He emphasized the need to adhere to the government’s Prevent-Detect-Isolate-Treat-Reintegrate (PDITR) strategy.

“Ang panawagan namin sa lahat (Our appeal to all) is when you feel something is not right, huwag ka nang lumabas, isolate ka na (don’t leave your homes, isolate), treat it as if you have Covid…Let’s try to protect everybody in our families, in our communities, in our workplaces, ” he said.

He also encouraged the public to undergo reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing the moment they start to experience symptoms of Covid-19.

Meanwhile, Nograles said the IATF is currently in the process of determining whether there may be “adjustments” made to the current Alert Level 3 restrictions amid an uptick in Covid-19 vaccinations.

“May meeting kami ng (We have a meeting with the) IATF tomorrow. But for today, January 3 being Day 1 ng (of) Alert Level 3 natin. Let’s all, as much as possible, take very high, extra precautions,” he said.