Pateros Mayor Miguel Ponce III has warned the public against the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Delta variant which is more infectious.
Dr. Edsel Salvana, a member of the Department of Health technical advisory group, warned that the Delta “variant has now been shown to be about 60 percent more transmissible than Alpha (B.1.1.7 or the UK variant).”
The DOH said there are now 17 COVID-19 Delta variant cases in the Philippines including the recent three returning overseas Filipinos from MV Eastern Hope, a ship docked in South Korea. Another case is an ROF from Saudi Arabia who arrived in the country on May 24 and who has recovered from the virus.
Ponce said on Monday that the Metro Manila Council (MMC) had a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases where they were warned against the Delta variant.
“I want to remind everyone that while we are vaccinating, let us continue to be cautious. The use of face shield has not been discontinued that is why we continue to implement it. In recent studies, it was shown that it helps in preventing the transmission of the virus,” he said.
“Let us continue to observe health protocols and we will continue to ban prohibited activities, including mass gatherings," he added.
The mayor said even if a person is vaccinated with the first and second doses, he can still contract COVID-19.
Ponce urged Pateros residents and non-residents who work in the municipality to register for vaccination and avail of the free vaccine from the national government.
The Pateros municipal government currently accepts walk-ins at these vaccination sites -- Villa Monica clubhouse, Pateros Catholic School-Main, and Pateros Catholic School-Annex.
“I urge you to register and get vaccinated so that Pateros, being the smallest, will be the first in Metro Manila to achieve herd immunity,” said Ponce.
He also announced that the municipal government will distribute food packs to families in Pateros starting June 23. The food packs will be coming from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).