Amid the spike of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the country, an infectious disease expert reiterated that the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is not mild and that the public should not be complacent about it.

“Ang Omicron po ay virus, hindi po siya bakuna. Hindi katulad ng mga bakuna natin na very safe at hindi naman nakakahawa ng mga tao, itong Omicron po ay pwede pa rin pong magdulot ng malaking pinsala (The Omicron is a virus, it is not a vaccine. Unlike our vaccines which are very safe and do not infect people, this Omicron can still cause great harm),” said Dr. Edsel Salvana during a virtual press briefing on Friday, Jan. 7.

The statement came after Fr. Nicanor Austriaco, a molecular biologist and an OCTA Research fellow said that the Omicron is a “blessing” and that it is “the beginning of the end” of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Sabi nga po ng World Health Organization (WHO), hindi po dapat tayo nagkakamali na tawagin itong Omicron na mild. Bagamat kung fully vaccinated, mababa ang tiyansa na mamatay at magkaroon ng severe , alam naman natin na meron pa rin tayong mga kababayan na hindi bakunado, o kung bakunado ay nasa vulnerable population (The WHO says, we shouldn’t make the mistake of calling Omicron mild. Although if fully vaccinated, the risk of dying and having severe symptoms is low, we know that we still have fellow citizens who are not vaccinated or if vaccinated are in a vulnerable population)” Salvana added.

Salvana likewise stressed that it is too early to determine whether the Omicron variant is the “beginning of the end” of the pandemic or not.

“If there’s one thing constant about COVID-19 and the SARS-CoV-2 virus, is that it has surprised us again and again,” he said.

The infectious disease expert urged the public not to be complacent, to properly observe minimum public health standards, and to get vaccinated in order to prevent the spread of the disease.