The Department of Health (DOH) has projected that daily cases of Covid-19 may reach as high as 18,000 by Nov. 15, 2022.
The figure is quite high compared to the current average. But it comes as no surprise considering that the country has started opening up and relaxing health protocols. Face-to-face classes are back, face mask use is now optional outdoors, 100 percent capacity is now allowed in almost all sectors.
Alarming? It may not be at this time. But it should be a cause of concern, not just for the healthcare sector but for everyone.
Consider this. DOH officer-in-charge Ma. Rosario Vergeire said the projection does not include yet the possible effects of the new variants – Omicron XBB subvariant and XBC variant – recently detected in the country. Factor in the effects of the new strains and that would mean much higher daily cases of Covid-19 by mid-November.
According to latest reports, the XBB subvariant is more transmissible.
Channel News Asia, quoting Singapore infectious disease specialist Dr. Leong Hoe Nam, reported that XBB is more transmissible and “out-infecting BA.5.”
And a pre-print study of researchers from China showed that Omicron new strains –XBB in particular – “are the most antibody-evasive strain tested, far exceeding BA.5 and approaching SARS-CoV-1 level.” SARS-CoV-1 is the strain of coronavirus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome.
In the same Channel News Asia report, Singapore’s Ministry of Health said 55 percent of the current infection cases in the island city-state are due to the XBB strain. That just reflects the transmissibility of the XBB strain.
Nothing much, however, has been reported about the characteristics of the XBC variant.
With the projected Covid-19 surge by mid-November and the detection of the more transmissible XBB subvariant, we need a concerted effort to help prevent the spread of the virus.
A surge to a level that will again overwhelm our healthcare system will be disastrous as that would most likely mean another lockdown to stem the spread of the virus. But under the current economic situation, the country can’t afford another lockdown as its impact will be too much to bear.
With lockdown out of the picture, the responsibility of preventing further spread of the virus begins with us. While we can’t underestimate the role of the healthcare sector, we can’t put this responsibility solely on their shoulders.
We, as individuals, have to play our role. And the first step we can do is strictly follow minimum health protocols. While the face mask mandate has been relaxed, there are other minimum health standards – physical distancing, handwashing and good ventilation – still available to us. There is also the vaccine against Covid-19. Get vaccinated now, tomorrow might be too late.
Let’s all practice these and be part of the solution in lessening the risk of infection. You are not doing these just for the protection of your family, neighbors, and the community. You are doing this for yourself.