DoH brushes off China Covid fears

The Department of Health on Friday allayed the fears of the public regarding the resurgence of Covid-19 cases in China, saying additional Covid-19 restrictions are not needed at this moment.

“We haven’t seen any reason based on science and evidence that we should add additional restrictions,” Health Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a media briefing.

“We need to look at the situation in a bigger picture and not just focus and base our decision on China,” said Vergeire, citing that interactions between other countries are still ongoing.

China is currently experiencing an explosion of Covid-19 cases after its government abruptly lifted its zero-Covid policy.

Last week, the health department ordered heightened surveillance on incoming travelers, particularly those who would come from China.

Countries like the United States, Japan, and India, announced mandatory Covid-19 tests on travelers from China. Vergeire said that the country’s protocols against Covid-19 remain effective.

Meanwhile, Vergeire said the public does not need to worry about the Omicron XBB.1.5, which is believed to be the most contagious Covid-19 strain to date.

“For whatever variants that will come into the country, as long as our people know how to protect themselves through vaccination and through compliance with the minimum public health standards, we need not worry,” she said.

Likewise, she stressed that the country’s healthcare system remained prepared and manageable.

Citing the World Health Organization, Vergeire said the Omicron XBB.1.5 subvariant is now the most transmissible variant of Covid-19.

“In the US, during the first week of December, they were only able to detect around four percent of their cases that have this XBB.1.5,” she said.

“But during the last week of December, their XBB.1.5 already comprises 40 percent of their infection, we see how transmissible this variant is,” she added.

Currently, the Philippines has yet to detect any cases of the Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5.

Last week, the health department ordered heightened surveillance on incoming travelers, particularly those who would come from China.