Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Thursday, Dec. 16 urged the public to heighten their vigilance and asked health officials and experts to study whether or not there is a need to revise the existing alert level throughout the country following reports that two Omicron cases of COVID-19 were recently discovered in the Philippines.

Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, said that while he is “deeply concerned” of the reports, he remains confident in the country’s existing Prevent-Detect-Isolate-Treat-Reintegrate strategy.

“As reports indicated, the first two cases of this variant were detected and isolated on the same dates and contact tracing is presently being conducted to who else were exposed to them,” he stated.

The lawmaker from Davao also emphasized the need to manage the Omicron variant first detected in South Africa on November 24.

He urged Filipinos to follow health guidelines and to stay at home as much as possible while COVID-19 remains a threat.

“Gaya ng sinabi ko noon pa, huwag talaga tayong magkumpiyansa habang andyan pa ang banta ng COVID-19 (As I have said before, let us not be complacent while the threat of COVID-19 is still there),” said Go

“Delikado pa talaga(It is still dangerous). Kailangang patuloy lang tayong maging alerto at sumunod sa mga itinakdang health protocols, gaya ng pagsuot ng mask at pag-obserba sa social distancing, palaging paghugas ng kamay at pananatili sa bahay kung hindi naman kinakailangan lumabas (We need to be alert at all time and follow the issued health protocols, such as the wearing of face mask and the observance of social distancing, frequent washing of the hands and to remain at home when it is not necessary to go out),” he added.

The Department of Health confirmed on December 15 that the Omicron COVID-19 strain was detected in a returning Filipino from Japan and a Nigerian national.

The former, whose sample was taken on December 5, arrived in the country on December 1. On the other hand, the Nigerian national arrived on November 30. The sample was collected on December 6.

According to reports, both are currently asymptomatic.

Amid eased health protocols, Go cautioned the public not to be complacent until the country attains population protection and, eventually, herd immunity.

Go also asked health officials and experts to review existing protocols in the country to determine whether or not they need to be heightened.

The Philippines will stay on Alert Level 2 through December 31, according to Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, amid a sustained drop in new cases. The alert level was initially set to last until December 15.

On December 14, the number of cases in the country fell to a 19-month low, from more than 26,000 cases in September. Although the number of cases has decreased, the country's borders have been tightened again due to the emergence of the Omicron variant.

Earlier, Go appealed for continued observance of health protocols especially in public gatherings, such as family celebrations, social functions, business fora or political rallies.

Go then urged all Filipinos to participate in the country's pandemic efforts and emphasized that overcoming the pandemic remains the country's priority over politics.