Sotto urges DOH, IATF to conduct ‘full-blown research’ on Omicron variant

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health and the government’s pandemic task force should conduct a “full-blown research” on the new Omicron COVID-19 variant, vice presidential aspirant, and Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Thursday.

“We need to study it more. I think the DOH and the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) should go into full-blown research on the matter kasi baka nagkakatakutan tayo nang wala sa lugar,” Sotto said during a media forum with presidential running mate Senator Panfilo Lacson.

(We need to study it more. I think the DOH and the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) should go into full-blown research on the matter because we might just be scaring ourselves.)

“Merong research, I think, na lumabas galing sa South Africa na ang symptoms nga mahina…Baka pahina na ‘yung mga variant, baka sakali,” the Senate President added.

(I think there’s research coming from South Africa showing that symptoms are mild so far. Maybe the emerging variants have milder symptoms, maybe.)

Still, Sotto stressed the need for the government to ensure measures are being taken against the looming threat of the new variant.

South African scientists were the first to announce the discovery of the Omicron variant of concern, or the B.1.1.529, but it is currently unclear where the variant originated from.

Scientists said the variant has a “very unusual constellation” of mutations, which are concerning as they could help it evade the body’s immune response and make the virus more transmissible.

Earlier this week, the World Health said the Omicron variant is likely to spread internationally, posing a “very high” global risk where COVID-19 surges could have “severe consequences” in some areas.

The Philippine government has placed South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, and Italy in the “red list” and banned the entry of travelers from these countries until December 15 to curb the entry of the Omicron variant.

Proactive, science-based response

Lacson and Sotto were also asked how they would respond to the COVID-19 situation in the country should they be elected in next year’s polls.

“Dapat science-based…hindi pwedeng hula-hula. Second, kailangan proactive. Pagka nahuli tayo doon sa pag-clo-close ng borders, alam naman natin na identified naman ‘yung mga bansa na nagkaroon ng kaso ay medyo maiiwanan na naman tayo sa kangkungan, so to speak,” Lacson said.

(The response should be science-based…we can’t just keep on guessing. Second, there’s a need to be proactive. If we lag behind in closing our borders, when we know which countries have identified cases, we will be left behind.)

Meanwhile, Sotto continued to push for free COVID-19 testing in the country.

“Dapat talaga free testing. Kaya ‘yung iba ayaw [magpa-test] e kasi may bayad, ‘di ba? Sinisipon, inuubo, sabi ng ibang mga kamag-anak ‘magpa-test ka ng…’ ‘Ayaw ko, may bayad, mahal e…’ ‘Di ba, ganoon ang nangyayari, so isa ‘yon na dapat i-address ng gobyerno,” he said.

(We should really have free testing. Others don’t want to get tested because they need to pay for it. They’re suffering from a cold, coughs, their family advises them to take a test and they say they won’t because they would have to pay for it. That’s what’s happening, right? So that is one thing that the government should address.

“And then, ‘yung mga preventive pills na available, e ‘di kasama rin ‘yon. Makakatulong din sa herd immunity ‘yun e, ‘yung mga ganoong programa,” he added.

(And then, the available preventive pills should also be offered. This will help us achieve herd immunity, those kinds of programs.)

/MUF