The recent increase in COVID-19 cases can be attributed to the relaxed implementation of health protocols amid back-to-back social gatherings and parties over the holiday season.
Infectious diseases expert and president of the Philippine College of Physicians Dr. Rontgene Solante said in a Friday public briefing that the current number of cases was higher than the previous years, but the hospitalization and ICU admission rate remained low.
Despite this, Solante warned the public to remain vigilant and protect themselves from possible infection as the new COVID-19 strain JN.1 may have entered the country.
“We don’t have yet the report of the Philippine Genome Center Biosurveillance Data, pero it’s not also impossible na nakapasok na ito dahil ito ngang JN.1 is also now found in some neighboring Asian countries kagaya ng Japan, China and in Singapore,” said Solante.
(We don’t yet have the report of the Philippine Genome Center Biosurveillance Data, but it’s also not impossible that it’s already entered the country because this JN.1 is now also found in some neighboring Asian countries like Japan, China, and in Singapore.)
“So far, the data are telling us na mataas talaga ang hawaan sa ganitong bagong JN.1. Mabilis ang pagkalat nito sa mga bansang nabanggit ko na, at kailangan talaga nating magingat. Since we are in the holidays, madaming gatherings and parties. Expected na tataas ang kaso, and I would say na hopefully kaya ng mga ospital at kaya ng mga health facilities natin,” he added.
(So far, the data is telling us that there is a high infection rate with the new JN.1. It spread fast in the countries I’ve mentioned, and we need to be careful. Since we are in the holidays, there are a lot of gatherings and parties. We expected a rise in cases, and I would say that hopefully the hospitals and health facilities would be able to handle it.)
He added that while recent cases of COVID-19 were mild and only exhibited influenza-like symptoms of cough, fever, sore throat, and cold for three to five days, the public should remain cautious as COVID-19 may still develop into severe cases if left unchecked.
“We have to maintain the mindset na ang COVID ay nandito pa. Pangalawa, ang covid ay pwedeng magdulot ng komplikasyon kagaya ng mga tinatawag natin na ‘Long COVID’ na medyo mataas-taas ang komplikasyon, na after the infection meron pang mananatiling sintomas na pwedeng can also cause morbidity. At siguro pangatlo, we need to look at this na pag na-impeksyon ka [at] pag meron kang COVID, may mga vulnerable population na puwedeng matamaan at pwedeng mag-severe,” he said.
(We have to maintain the mindset that COVID is still here. Second, COVID can cause complications like what we call ‘Long COVID which is a common complication, and after infection, we still have symptoms that can cause morbidity. And maybe third, we need to look at this like if you get an infection [and] you have COVID, there are vulnerable populations that can be hit and may become severe) — DVM, GMA Integrated News
