Due to high risk and superspreaders events, National Task Force (NTF) against Covid-19 special adviser Dr. Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa warned of a possible Covid-19 surge in the next two months.
Herbosa, in the “Laging Handa” public briefing, on Saturday, April 9, said that there could be an increase in the country’s number of Covid-19 infections due to superpreader events.
“Yung dalawang big events natin – we have the campaign period at mayroon din tayong religious events like Holy Week and Ramadan. All of these are high risk events o superpreader. Magandang reminder ito sa atin na pwede talagang tumaas ang kaso in the next two months (Our two big events – we have the campaign period and we also have religious events like Holy Week and Ramadan. All of these are high risk events or superspreaders. This is a good reminder to us that the number of Covid-19 cases in the country could really increase in the next two months),” said Herbosa.
The statement came after the World Health Organization (WHO) warned of a possible surge of cases in the Philippines, especially after the elections on May 9.
Meanwhile, Herbosa said that the national government is currently monitoring areas with low vaccination rates like Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), and several municipalities in Visayas and Mindanao.
“Dito pwedeng ma-overwhelm ang ating health system at mapuno ng mao-ospital na vulnerable cases. Ito ang consistent na nire-remind natin sa ating partner local government units (LGUs) na pataasin ang antas ng vaccine administration lalo’t sapat ang numero ng bakuna natin ngayon (This can overwhelm our health system and fill our hospitals with vulnerable cases. This is what we consistently remind our partner LGUs to increase the level of vaccine administration especially since we have enough vaccines now) ,” Herbosa reiterated.
He likewise underscored the importance of getting boosted against the disease, especially with the presence of Covid-19 sub variants and recombinant.
“Habang holy week at walang trabaho siguro, maganda at pwede na tayo magpa-booster (During the holy week, at the time when most of Filipinos are not working, maybe it is best if we get boosted),” he added.