Expert says increase in COVID-19 cases possible

Citing the slow decrease of BA.5 cases, an infectious disease expert on Monday said there is a possibility that the number of COVID-19 cases in the country may increase.

Dr. Rontgene Solante issued the remark when asked about the Department of Health’s projection of at least 9,000 COVID-19 cases daily by the end of September to October if minimum health standards are not followed.

“Yes, I fully agree with that, no? Kasi nakikita natin with this BA.5, ang tagal niya bumaba, so there’s also a possibility na aakyat na naman to,” Solante said at a public briefing.

[Yes, I fully agree with that. Because as we see with this BA.5, it’s decreasing slowly, so there’s a possibility that it will still increase.]

“Especially sa nabanggit ko na na tataas ang mobility, tataas ang mga pagtitipon-tipon sa iba’t ibang forms of gatherings at alam naman natin itong BA.5 can still infect those even if you are fully vaccinated,” he added.

[Especially with the increase in mobility and gatherings and we know that BA.5 can still infect you even if you are vaccinated.]

Despite this, Solante said the projections could be prevented by getting the first booster shot or second booster shot against COVID-19.

He said there is also a possibility that hospital admissions may increase.

“There’s always that possibility na tataas din ang ma-aadmit sa hospital and among those that will be admitted are the high risk or the vulnerable population,” he said. 

According to the US CDC, the highly transmissible Omicron subvariant BA.5 has been said to be good at evading the immune protection afforded either by vaccination or prior infection. — RSJ, GMA News