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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Public health standards protect vs COVID-19 variants -- expert

Public health standards protect vs COVID-19 variants -- expert

Published Jul 6, 2021 01:35 pm

An infectious disease expert reminded the public that minimum public health standards would work against all coronavirus disease (COVID-19) variants amid concerns surrounding the emergence of the Lambda variant.

(AFP / MANILA BULLETIN)

The Lambda variant, also known as the C.37 variant, was first detected in Peru and is believed to be more transmissible.

On Tuesday, July 6, the World Health Organization (WHO) said the Lambda COVID-19 train, feared to be "more infectious" than the Delta variant, remains to be a "variant of interest."

In a Facebook post, Dr. Edsel Salvana maintained that public health standards will protect the public against all variants.

"The mutations are scary, but the transmissibility and vaccine resistance behavior is not yet a done deal and is still being investigated -- despite what certain alarmist articles are proclaiming there is still very little evidence for or against," Salvana wrote.

He added that Delta "is still the most concerning of the variants" as it is already "causing so much havoc.

With the emergence of new variants, Salvana stressed the importance of vaccination and strict border controls.

"Vaccines will also prevent severe disease and death. Strict quarantine of incoming travelers can continue to keep out these new variants if we follow them to the letter," he added.

On Monday, July 5, the Department of Health has reported two more cases of the Delta variant, raising the total Delta variant infections in the country to 19.

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