No official word from WHO yet on community transmission of variants in NCR Plus — DOH

Image: koto_feja/IStock.com via AFP

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) has yet to receive an official statement from the World Health Organization (WHO) on whether or not there is already community transmission of the United Kingdom and South Africa variants of COVID-19 in the National Capital Region (NCR) Plus area.

DOH Undersecretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire said this Friday after WHO representative to the Philippines Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe expressed belief that “there is some degree to community transmission” of the two COVID-19 variants in the NCR Plus.

“We still have not received from WHO an official statement to inform us that based on their assessment, there is already community transmission among these variants that we have already detected here in our country,” Vergeire said in a media briefing.

“But of course there has been this assumption already even before dahil nakikita natin tumataas ang bilang ng mga taong nai-identify natin with these variants,” she added.

(But of course, there has been this assumption already even before because we can see that the number of people detected to have the COVID-19 variants is increasing.)

Nonetheless, Vergeire reminded the public to comply with public health standards regardless of the variants in the country.

“Kailangan natin ipaalala sa ating mga kababayan na kahit ano pa hong variant ang meron tayo sa ating bansa, pareho pa rin ng kailangan nating gawin,” Vergeire said.

(We need to remind our countrymen that whatever variant we have, we still have to continue what we are doing.)

“Hindi porke may community transmission ay talaga namang matatakot na tayo ng husto. Hindi natin kailangan matakot ng ganyan, kailangan lang ay lalabanan natin by complying with the health protocols at kung eligible na kayong magpabakuna, magpabakuna na tayo,” she added.

(We should not be overly afraid just because there is community transmission We do not need to be afraid, instead we fight by complying with the health protocols and if eligible, get vaccinated.)

In March, the DOH reported that the UK and South Africa COVID-19 variants were already present in all cities of Metro Manila.

EDV