Low alert level still OK even with new variant already in Hong Kong — DOH adviser

An infectious disease expert on Friday said he believes the country can afford to have a low alert level even with the presence of the new coronavirus variant in Hong Kong, provided that COVID-19 transmissions in the country remain low.

Dr. Edsel Salvana, a member of the Department of Health (DOH)-Technical Advisory Group, said alert levels are based on the ongoing community transmission.

“So kung mababa yung transmission at tuloy tuloy nga ‘yung paggamit ng PDITR, I don’t see any problems naman as long as our healthcare capacity remains manageable,” Salvana said at the Laging Handa briefing.

(So if transmissions remain low and we continue to use the PDITR, I don’t see any problems as long as our healthcare capacity remains manageable.)

Salvana issued the remark when asked if the country can afford to have a less restrictive alert level amid the new B.1.1.529 variant and the nearing holiday season.

However, he clarified that this is no reason to be complacent.

“Nakita naman natin na sa Europe ngayon tumataas dahil masyado silang nagluwag dahil mababa yung cases, initially dahil mataas na yung vaccination,” he said.

(We see in Europe that cases increased because they relaxed too much because cases went down and vaccination rates were high.)

The B.1.1.529 variant was found to have 10 mutations and is being blamed for the surge of infections in South Africa. It has been detected in Botswana and Hong Kong.

Experts abroad have also expressed concern that the variant might make vaccines less effective due to its spike protein, which is different from the original coronavirus that vaccines are based on.

Monitoring

According to Salvana, health experts in the country are already monitoring the variant.

“Sinusubaybayan po natin ito. Bagamat hindi pa naman siya nag te-take over katulad nung Delta, nakakabahala rin yung mutations na taglay nito,” he said.

(We are monitoring this. Even though it has not taken over like Delta, its mutations are concerning.)

“So I think ang important sa atin is tuloy-tuloy pa rin natin yung ginagawa natin na dahan dahan lang tayo magbubukas and we watch for any spikes and continue our genomic surveillance,” he later added.

(I think it’s important for us to continue slowly opening the economy and to keep watch for any spikes and to continue our genomic surveillance.) — RSJ, GMA News