Omicron Spreads; New COVID Cases Jump To 17,220

Twenty-nine more cases of Omicron were detected in the country, bringing to 43 the total cases of the new variant, the Department of Health (DOH) reported on Thursday, Jan. 6.

The DOH said the Philippine Genome Center (PGC) detected 29 new cases of Omicron (B.1.1.529) from 48 samples sequenced last Jan. 2.

“The 29 Omicron variant cases are composed of 10 returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) and 19 local cases with indicated addresses in the National Capital Region,” the DOH said.

The PGC also found 18 Delta (B.1.617.2) variant while one had no lineage assigned. Of the 19 cases, 14 are active, three have been tagged as recovered and two are still being verified. The DOH said the total number of confirmed Delta variant cases has reached 8,497.

New COVID cases nationwide jumped to 17,220 on Thursday, with 11 laboratories unable to submit data, according to the DOH’s case bulletin.

The new cases pushed the country’s total COVID infections to 2,888,917.

Active cases also surged to 56,561 while deaths rose to 51,743 with the inclusion of 81 more fatalities. Only six of the 81 deaths occurred in January. Additional 616 recoveries brought to 2,780,613 the total number of those who recuperated from the disease.

The National Capital Region accounted for the highest number of new cases with 11,563, followed by Calabarzon with 3,165 and Central Luzon with 1,126.

DOH said all laboratories were operational, but 11 failed to submit data. The 11 laboratories contribute, on average, 2.8 percent of the samples tested and 4.5 percent of positive individuals.

20,000 daily infections

The number of new COVID-19 cases in the country may breach 20,000 on Friday, OCTA Research group fellow Guido David warned on Thursday.

He explained that Metro Manila is expected to break records in new cases after positivity rate reached 45 percent as of Jan. 4. On Thursday, the DOH reported 17,220 new cases. Out of that number, Metro Manila may have 10,000 to 11,000 new cases, eclipsing the previous high of 9,031 recorded on Sept. 11, 2021.

Metro Manila logged 7,479 new cases on Wednesday, with the most cases recorded in Quezon City (1,781), followed by Manila (1,407), Makati (605), Parañaque (594) and Caloocan (471).

“And the surge has not peaked yet. The country is expected to exceed 20,000 new cases by Jan. 7,” said David. He noted the hospital bed occupancy in Metro Manila increased from 19 percent to 34 percent in a span of one week.

At the Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City, 42 of 87 beds for COVID patients are occupied, according to LCP pulmonary medicine specialist and media relations officer Dr. Norberto Francisco.

For his part, Philippine General Hospital spokesperson Dr. Jonas del Rosario advised the public to be wary of reports that a COVID infection from the more infectious strain could act as a natural vaccine or booster.

Getting infected just for a boost in immunity is an irresponsible act that could jeopardize other people’s safety, Del Rosario added.

The St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC) has informed the public to seek consultation for COVID-19 related symptoms at the emergency rooms of its hospitals in Quezon City and Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

“Rest assured that we are doing our best to ensure that all patients receive the utmost care,” SLMC said. For non-COVID cases, the SLMC said both hospitals remain open to accommodate admissions and outpatient procedures and services.

WFH

Amid the rise in COVID cases, the government is encouraging companies to adopt work-from-home (WFH) setup or other alternative work arrangements.

In a joint advisory, the DOH, Department of Labor and Employment and Department of Trade and Industry further reminded employers to strictly enforce minimum public health standards for those working onsite.

“Comply strictly on inspecting proof of vaccination in premises or business operations where these are required by the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases),” it said, stressing the need to immediately isolate and test workers with symptoms while recommending adequate assistance to those in quarantine.

Drastic measures

Presidential aspirant Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has called for drastic measures to curb the surge in new COVID-19 cases.

“I think we need a more drastic move because what is happening is already drastic,” he said, suggesting that government should consider a house-to-house vaccination drive “so those who are confined in their homes will also get vaccines.” — With Edu Punay, Janvic Mateo, Emmanuel Tupas, Marc Jayson Cayabyab