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Concepcion: Delta variant a threat to economic recovery, may prevent a 'merry Christmas'
Concepcion: Delta variant a threat to economic recovery, may prevent a 'merry Christmas'
The emergence and spread of the Delta and Delta Plus variants of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) could hamper the Philippines' economic recovery if not prevented, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion said on Monday, June 28.
"This is the most serious variant that I think can really throw a curveball and you know, destroy our entire plan," Concepcion warned during the Senate trade committee's inquiry on the impacts of COVID-19 of the country's trade, commerce and entrepreneurship sectors.
"So we have to be careful in opening up, especially our borders in countries that have very high levels of the Delta variant. Because if that penetrates in the Philippines, then we will definitely not -- we will not be able to achieve a merry Christmas," he stressed.
The Go Negosyo founder maintained that the "only solution" to the pandemic's recessionary impacts is "to solve the health problem", mainly by speeding up the vaccination of Filipinos.
He informed the Senate panel of the government and business sector's plan to further open up the local economy, once 50 percent of the population have been inoculated against COVID-19.
He specifically referred to increasing the allowable capacities in commercial establishments and businesses, opening up theaters and coliseums, among others, particularly in the "National Capital Region Plus" bubble -- Metro Manila, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, and Laguna.
He cited a projection from OCTA Research that 50 percent of the country's population will be vaccinated by September or October.
Business groups, Concepcion said, are now listing industries to be recommended to the government for opening up once the 50-percent target has been reached.
"We have grouped together and worked with the medical advisers of government...to come out with a game plan, the objective of which is how do we achieve a merrier Christmas this coming year and a better 2023," Concepcion said.
"This is the focus of the private sector right now, together with the government, to inoculate as fast as possible, and hopefully, within the next one month, we will be able to come out with our own recommendations, assuming no Delta variant, and we achieve 50-percent population protection, we achieve herd immunity," the presidential adviser said.
Health officials said the Delta variant, which was first detected in India, and the Delta Plus variant, which reportedly originated in Nepal, are more contagious. It was also said that these variants are "resistant to some vaccines".
So far, 17 cases of the Delta coronavirus variant have been recorded in the country. Officials said there is no local transmission of the variant yet.