File Photo: A man wearing a protective face mask walks past an illustration of a virus outside a regional science centre in Oldham, Britain, as the city and surrounding areas face local restrictions in an effort to avoid a local lockdown being forced upon the region, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak on August 3, 2020. (REUTERS/Phil Noble)
MANILA, Philippines — An infectious diseases expert has reminded Filipinos that although World Health Organization (WHO) may have declared that COVID-19 is no longer a health emergency, the pandemic is here to stay, and cases may still increase depending on factors.
Former Department of Health (DOH) adviser Dr. Edsel Salvana said this at the Laging Handa public briefing on Monday.
He explained WHO’s declaration only meant that the world has more grasp on how to control the spread of COVID-19.
He likened it to other ailments which may peak during a particular season.
“COVID is there, it would not be gone. Cases may still rise from time to time. If you think about it, cases of dengue, and influenza, these also increase during seasons. But we can predict these because we have medicines. We have vaccines against flu,” Salvana said in Filipino.
“The impact of the pandemic can now be predicted and addressed so that we do not have to resort to lockdown or do drastic measures like quarantines for people. That is what WHO is saying — they are not saying COVID is gone. It is still there,” he added.
Last Friday, WHO declared COVID-19, which had killed millions and sent the world into a standstill in 2020, is no longer a public health emergency.
RELATED STORIES:
COVID-19 no longer a global health emergency, says WHO
Octa: Experts foresee COVID-19 positivity rate to rise to 25% in Metro Manila
DOH says rise of COVID-19 positivity rate in PH already expected
COVID cases still rising but alerts may be lowered – DOH