Expert warns of possible uptick in virus cases a week after polls

THE government should brace for a possible rise in active novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases as early as next week following the recently concluded May 9, 2022 national and local elections (NLE), according to an infectious disease expert.

In a televised interview on Wednesday, Vaccine Expert Panel Dr. Rontgene M. Solante said they have identified patients, who are now exhibiting Covid-19 symptoms.

“In fact, we found patients who showed mild symptoms and were positive [for Covid-19]. So this means they got in the precincts or before they voted. So those are the possible scenarios,” Solante said.

He added they have received reports of minimum health standards violations in polling precincts, which includes non-wearing of face masks and non-adherence to physical distancing in rooms with poor ventilation.

“This was the scenario, where there is a possibility of transmission and this is concerning. That is why this type of event can be a superspreader event,” Solante pointed out.

It usually takes people three to five days for those infected with Covid-19 to show symptoms, he added.

“So for example, those who had high exposure [to Covid-positive individuals] last May 9, we have to count seven to five days, and this will reflect [in Covid cases] most likely next week,” Solante said.

The Department of Health (DOH) earlier warned that active Covid-19 cases nationwide could reach 300,000 cases nationwide if minimum health standards compliances during the May 9 polls will drop to 30 to 50 percent.

For its part, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) earlier said it tried minimizing the possible spread of infection in polling precincts through temperature checks as well as assigning voters with Covid symptoms in isolation polling places (IPP).

In its latest weekly Covid-19 case bulletin, DOH said there were 1,124 Covid-19 cases from May 2 to 8, 2022.