OCTA: Jabs could ease Delta-driven surge

OCTA Research on Sunday said the possible surge of new Covid-19 cases in the country could be as severe as the one last March, but it could be mitigated if the pace of vaccination is stepped up.

The surge could be worse than the one in March to April because the Delta variant is 60 percent more transmissible than the Alpha or Beta variants, OCTA fellow Guido David said.

“Pero may mga new factors because may vaccination na rin tayo. We have a significant portion of NCR vaccinated (But we have new factors because we already have vaccination. We have a significant portion of NCR vaccinated),” David said.

In the National Capital Region or Metro Manila, about 10 percent of the population had been fully vaccinated, with more than 20 percent having received the first dose, he said.

He added this new factor will not be “insignificant.”

“Will it be able to slow down

spread virus? We think so especially since most of the vaccinations are mga seniors, health care workers. Sila ‘yung medyo mataas ‘yung incidents ng virus, medyo malakas na tinatamaan (most of those vaccinated are senior citizens and health care workers. They have a higher risk),” David said.

Last March, the country recorded an average of 5,000 to 10,000 cases a day in Metro Manila alone.

He also noted the level of vaccination will significantly slow down or prevent a new surge.

On Friday, the Department of Health (DoH) detected 16 additional cases of the Delta variant of Covid-19 in the country.

Delta is said to be driving the surge in India, Indonesia and Thailand, and has spread in at least 98 countries.

On Sunday, the country logged 5,411 new Covid-19 cases, bringing the total to 1.507 million, 47,190 of which are active, the DoH said.

Of the active cases, 91.9 percent were mild or asymptomatic.

The Health Department also reported 5,439 new recoveries for a total of 1.433 million.

Meanwhile, the death toll climbed to 26,714 with 117 new fatalities.