PH prepares for the threat of a new virus variant

Manila, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte convened infectious disease experts and those responsible for the country’s COVID-19 response to a special meeting on Saturday to discuss possible policy changes to deal with the new variant of the coronavirus that emerged in the United Kingdom, according to presidential spokesman Harry Roque. .

Duterte will interrupt his visit to the city of Davao, where he spent Christmas with his family, to return to Malacañang for the 6 pm meeting with members of the Interagency Working Group for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Roque said.

In a Viber message to reporters, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, a former aide to the president, said Duterte was “very concerned” about the new variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes severe respiratory illness. .

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who announced stricter lockdown measures over the UK Christmas holidays, said the new variant “may be up to 70 percent more transmissible than the original version of the disease.”

56% more contagious

Scientists said in a new study that the mutated coronavirus was on average 56 percent more contagious than the original version.

Roque said officials would determine whether it was necessary to “change some policies in the fight against COVID-19” such as the possible extension of the one-week ban on people traveling from the UK, which began on December 24, or to impose the same ban on travelers from places that have reported cases of the new variant such as Singapore, Nigeria and Hong Kong.

If the new variant is shown to spread more easily, stricter implementation of health and safety protocols would be necessary to prevent the spread of the disease, he said.

But when asked if a more infectious variant would mean a stricter quarantine, Roque said: “Maybe not because we’re really making sure our people have a livelihood.”

“And I think this Christmas, despite the doubts, the Filipinos have shown that they can follow the minimum standards of health,” he added.

In the new study, the scientists warned that the most contagious mutated coronavirus may need faster vaccine deployment to help prevent more deaths.

According to the study published Wednesday by the Center for Mathematical Modeling of Infectious Diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, researchers were still not sure whether the new variant was more or less deadly than its predecessor.

“However, increased transmissibility is likely to lead to a large increase in incidence, with COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths projected to reach higher levels in 2021 than those seen in 2020, even if they remain. regional tiered restrictions implemented before December 19, “they said.

Accelerate launch

The study authors said the national lockdown imposed in England in November is unlikely to prevent an increase in infections “unless primary schools, secondary schools and universities are also closed.”

Any relaxation of control measures would likely cause “a major resurgence of the virus,” they said.

This means that “it may be necessary to greatly accelerate the launch of the vaccine to have an appreciable impact in suppressing the resulting disease burden.”

The discovery of the new variant sounded alarms around the world just as more countries began vaccination campaigns to stop a pandemic that has claimed more than 1.7 million lives since it emerged a year ago in China.

Many countries quickly imposed travel bans from Britain, but EU governments have relaxed the restrictions.

The co-founder of BioNTech, Pfizer’s partner in the production of the vaccine to be launched worldwide this week, has said that his drug is “very likely” to work against the mutated virus and may otherwise be adapted in six weeks.

Post-holiday increase

In Cebu City, central Visayas health authorities called on privately owned and government-run hospitals in the region to keep their 30 percent allocated coronavirus beds in wards and intensive care units to prepare for a possible post-holiday increase in COVID-19 cases.

“If there were another increase in COVID-19 cases, God forbid, we should be ready to address the needs of patients,” said Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, spokesperson for the Department of Health’s Region 7 office. (DOH).

Loreche told the Inquirer that the region’s testing capacity could go up to 4,000-5,000 in 24 hours.

She said that Cebu City, once labeled the second COVID-19 epicenter in the country after Metro Manila, has a “very active and efficient” Emergency Operations Center. The critical care utilization rate in hospitals also fell from more than 80 percent to 19 percent, Loreche said.

Although Central Visayas already smashed the curve last September, it said people should not be complacent and should continue to observe health protocols such as wearing masks and face shields, practicing physical distancing, washing hands frequently, and staying indoors as long as may be possible.

Central Visayas, which includes Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor, have recorded a total of 24,776 cases with 22,748 recoveries and 1,424 deaths since the start of the pandemic, according to DOH 7.

As of Thursday, only 604 cases remained active.

Most cases new to QC

DOH reported 1,885 new infections on Christmas Day, bringing the national total to 467,601.

Quezon City had the most new cases (130), followed by Bulacan (122), Davao City (99), Rizal (78), and Leyte (63).

Another 307 patients have recovered, bringing the total number of COVID-19 survivors to 430,791.

The death toll rose to 9,062 after the death of seven patients.

Recoveries and deaths left the country with 27,748 active cases, of which 81.7 percent are mild, 10.4 percent asymptomatic, 0.32 percent moderate, 2.6 percent severe, and 4.9 percent critical. .

From Dec. 1 to Dec. 25, a total of 36,229 new cases were reported, a 14 percent drop from 42,427 during the same period last month, the DOH said.

While the national government has yet to seal an agreement to purchase a vaccine, some local authorities have begun seeking funds to buy vaccines for their constituents.

Cebu Vaccine Budget

Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella said the city had set aside at least P500 million to purchase and distribute a vaccine.

He said that Carlito Gálvez Jr., who was in charge of the national vaccination program, told him that Cebu City would be among the areas that would be prioritized.

Loreche said that at least 60 percent of the population must be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity.

“It would be a waste of funds, time and effort if we did not achieve that and it was difficult for us to achieve it. That is why partnerships and collaborations will definitely be required to be successful, ”he added. –WITH REPORTS FROM MELVIN GASCON, ADOR VINCENT MAYOL, JOVIC YEE AND AFP INQ

For more news on the new coronavirus, click here.

What you need to know about the coronavirus.

For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.

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