‘No surge 2 weeks after election means Filipinos still have high protection vs COVID’

MANILA – If no surge occurs two weeks after the national and local elections, an infectious disease expert said this means that protection against COVID-19 remains high in the country.

“Yes, expected ‘yan na kung wala mang surge or spike after the election, that’s good news, no. Ibig sabihin, mataas pa ang protection natin,” Dr. Rontgene Solante said at the Laging Handa briefing.

Solante said they received reports that some individuals removed their face masks while others had to wait inside rooms without proper ventilation due to problems with votecounting machines during the voting period.

According to Solante, the effect of the activities during the Election Day may be reflected in the country’s COVID-19 numbers starting next week as the incubation period is usually from three to five days.

“So kung halimbawa, mataas ang exposure nung May 9, magbilang tayo ng mga… five to seven days. So magrereflect ‘yan, most likely next week,” he said.

Solante also warned against the entry of the BA.4 and the BA.5 Omicron sub-variants, which are linked to the spread of cases in South Africa, and the BA.2.12.1.

“So kung okay tayo after two weeks, then hopefully, ma-continue natin.. But we continue to be vigilant in our health protocol at sa pagbabakuna,” he said.

“Based on data, kapag meron kang first booster or third dose, malaki ang tsansa natin ng protection even with these sub-variants, especially against severe diseases,” Solante added.

“So ganon pa rin ang panawagan natin… pataasin natin ang booster doses natin doon sa primary vaccine series na nakatanggap na. At ‘yung wala pang bakuna, dapat magkapabukana,” he further said.

For its part, the Department of Health (DOH) has said that the sub-variants “should not be any cause of concern.”