PH urged to prepare for 'worst-case scenario' vs Delta variant
The Philippines must prepare for a "worst-case scenario" against the possible spread of a more transmissible Delta variant, a physician from the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Medicine said on Wednesday, July 21.
In an interview with ANC, Dr. Gene Nisperos raised alarm over the lack of testing and surveillance amid the threat of a more dangerous Delta COVID-19 variant in the country.
"Even when they say we have eight cases right now, we need to assume that there's more out there that we haven't detected yet, mainly because we aren't testing enough, and that itself is alarming," Nisperos said.
"I understand that there are very strict criteria to say that the community transmission is happening, but I cannot assume, if we want to err on the safe side, then we have to prepare for the worst-case scenario," he added.
Nisperos urged the government to conduct more testing and contact tracing.
"We don't want to be caught flatfooted again like what happened to the last surge where people are dying outside hospitals," he added.
"Intervention should happen whether or not we have actual proof that there's community transmission, there's local transmission. I think the most prudent step is to ramp up testing and contact tracing. Both of which are essential and have been the call of most people since last year from the start."
READ MORE: Focus on contact tracing, expert urges amid Delta variant threat
On July 16, the DOH reported 11 cases of the Delta variant. Of this figure, six were from Northern Mindanao, two were from Metro Manila, another two from Western Visayas, and a lone patient was from Central Luzon.
The Philippines now has eight active cases of the Delta variant after individuals who had initially been tagged as recoveries tested positive after “retesting.”
The country has so far reported 35 cases of the Delta variant.