Headline
No local transmission of Omicron BA.2.12.1 yet: DOH expert
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MANILA – There is no indication yet of a local transmission of the Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1 in the country, an infectious disease expert said Monday.
In a televised public briefing, Department of Health (DOH) – Technical Advisory Group member, Dr. Edsel Salvaña, said certain areas were placed under Alert Level 2 because they have not reached the minimum vaccination rate corresponding to their eligible population, not due to the detection of BA.2.12.1 cases.
However, Salvaña did not discount the possibility of local transmission as the subvariant is highly transmissible.
“Para masabi namin na meron talagang local transmission, lalung-lalo na iyong tinatawag na sustained local transmission, tinitingnan natin itong transmission chain niyan at makikita natin kung mati-trace pa natin (For us to say there is really local transmission, especially sustained local transmission, we look at its transmission chain and see if it can be traced),” he said.
Earlier, the DOH detected two local cases of BA.2.12.1 in the National Capital Region. Both had no international travel history.
Twelve other BA.2.12.1 cases were also detected from a tourist cluster in Palawan, 11 of them foreign nationals.
“Halimbawa, iyung sa Palawan, very clear naman [na] isang cluster iyon. Itong sa Metro Manila, iyung dalawa na BA.2.12.1, sinusuri po natin iyong contacts niyan at kung saan man nila nakuha (For example, the one in Palawan, it’s very clear that it’s one cluster. The two BA.2.12.1 cases in Metro Manila, we’re examining their contacts and where they got it). Is it abroad, is it something that was imported o mayroon ba talagang (or was there a) hidden community transmission?” Salvaña said.
The DOH assured the public that Covid-19 vaccines are safe and effective against the BA.2.12.1 subvariant and they help keep the health care utilization low and the economy reopening under Alert Level 1.
The following provinces, highly urbanized cities, and independent component cities are under Alert Level 2 until May 31, without prejudice to their respective component cities and municipalities which may be under a different Alert Level classification: Luzon: Cordillera Administrative Region: Benguet, Ifugao; Region 4-A: Quezon Province; Region 4-B: Occidental Mindoro, and Palawan; and Region V: Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Masbate, and Sorsogon; Visayas: Region 6: Antique and Negros Occidental; Region 7: Bohol, Cebu Province, and Negros Oriental; and Region 8: Leyte, Northern Samar, and Western Samar; Mindanao: Region 9: City of Isabela, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, and Zamboanga Sibugay; Region 10: Lanao del Norte; Region 11: Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, and Davao Occidental; Region 12: General Santos City, North Cotabato, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, and South Cotabato; Caraga: Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, and Surigao del Norte; and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao: Basilan, Cotabato City, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.
Cecille Moreno
May 16, 2022 at 9:31 AM
Good thing taht there have been no transmission of the virus.Bit that doesn’t mean that we do not need to wear facemask.Let’s be responsible for our own health
Maria Teresa Belmin
May 16, 2022 at 10:00 AM
Wag na lang siguro magpaka kampante ang lahat kahit na wala pang naiuulat na local transmission ng nasabing variant ng sakit.Ibayong pag iingat at pagsunod pa rin sa mga health standards and protocol ang kailangan at magiging susi para tuluyan na nating maipanalo ang laban sa COVID19.
Vilma Si
May 16, 2022 at 11:53 AM
Salamat Panginoon, Naway sana hindi tayo mapuntahan nang ganitong uri ng variant. Mahalaga parin ang pag-iingat at seguridad nang ating buhay sa napaka mapanganib na birus na ito, Tandaan na hindi dapat nawawala ang social distancing, using face mask at iwasan ang mga crowded places. sa ngayon pag tapos nang election ay mukhang ma ayos parin ang sistema natin sa covid at hindi lubhang naapektuhan nung eleksiyon.
Catherine Cristobal
May 16, 2022 at 7:41 PM
Meron Man o Wala na Naitala NA Panibagong Variant ng Virus na Pinangangambahan na Kumalat Sa Ngaun.Npakahalaga kung Tayo Ay MAGKAROON ng Pananggalang Laban dto kagaya ng mga Bakuna na Magpplakas ng ating Immune System Upang maiwasan ang matinding dulot ng mga Viruses na ito.Mhalaga din ang Pagdodoble o Pagtitriple ingat at Wag natin isantabi ANg Mga Safety Protocols na Kailangan natin Sundin at Gawin,Upang makaiwas sa mga Viruses na Naglipana Sa Ngayon.At ANg Pinakamahalaga sa Lahat Ay ANg ating Panalangin at Dasal na Matapos na Nawa ANg Pandemyang pinagdadaanan natin sa Ngayon Upang Maibalik na sa Normal at Masaya ang Ating mga Pang araw araw na Buhay ng Walang pinangangambahan na Maaaring dumapo sa atin n mga Karamdaman na dulot ng mga Bagong Virus na Naglipana sA Ngayon.Keep Safe and Godbless Us All.Good Luck and More Powers po sa inyo PCI????
Mark Christian Dizon
May 16, 2022 at 10:41 PM
It’s a great news that there is no transmission happens yet, but of course we don’t want wait that time so it’s time to level up the preventive measurement to avoid the transmission.