MANILA, Philippines — There is no indication of local transmission of Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1 in the country, infectious disease expert Edsel Salvaña said Monday.
COVID-19 Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1 is estimated to be around 20-percent more infectious than BA.2.
READ: New Omicron subvariant BA.2.12 begins to show in South Korea
“Sa ngayon, walang indication po ‘yan. I mean, it’s possible lalo na sa pagkakahawa ng mga—ang bilis manghawa kasi ng Omicron,” Salvaña responded in a Laging Handa public briefing, when asked if there is a local transmission.
(Currently, there is no indication. I mean, it’s possible, especially since it spreads quickly.)
“Usually kasi para masabi namin na meron talagang local transmission, lalong-lalo na ‘yung tinatawag na sustained local transmission, tinitignan natin ‘yung transmission chains niyan at makikita natin kung mate-trace pa natin,” he explained.
(Usually, in order to say that there is a local transmission, especially what we call sustained local transmission, we look into the transmission chains and see if we can still trace it.)
Salvaña however said that it is safer to assume that the variant is present in communities.
“But, it’s always safer to assume na nandiyan na ‘yan, kaya kinakailangan patuloy ‘yung pag-ingat natin,” he advised the public.
(But, it’s always safer to assume that it is already there. That is why we have to continue taking precautions.)
The BA.2.12.1 has been detected in Metro Manila and in Puerto Princesa in Palawan, according to the Department of Health.
READ: Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1 now in NCR, Puerto Princesa
Currently, 79 provinces, highly urbanized cities and independent component cities, and 160 other cities and municipalities are under Alert Level 1.
READ: Metro Manila, other areas stay under Alert Level 1