Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has urged the Department of Health (DOH) to monitor the COVID-19 situation in China following its government’s decision to lift their border restrictions starting next month.
“I urge our health authorities, the Department of Health, as chairman of the Senate committee on Health in the Senate, to keep an eye on China’s situation,” Go said in an interview on Tuesday, December 27 in Parañaque City.
“Kelangan po ahead tayo, ‘wag tayong maging kumpyansa. Bagamat lumuluwag ang ating health restriction sa ngayon, ako po ay nananawagan sa mga kababayan natin, kung hindi naman po sagabal, mag-face mask pa rin po tayo (We need to be ahead, so let's not be confident. Although our health restrictions are being eased at the moment, I am calling on our countrymen, if there is no problem, let's still wear face masks),” the senator said.
Go sounded the alarm as Chinese authorities decided to take an abrupt U-turn on its “zero-COVID” policy—which has been in place for the last three years in China—despite the rising infections in the mainland.
As of Tuesday, December 27, the Philippines registered 289 new COVID-19 infections, which is the lowest total for a day since June 15, when 256 cases were reported.
Based on the DOH’s latest data, the number of active cases is now down from 15,472 last Monday, to 14,695 on Tuesday. The new cases pushed the nationwide tally to 4, 062,511.
Against this backdrop, the DOH confirmed the detection of subvariant BF.7—considered a sublineage of the Omicron subvariant BA.5—in the Philippines, but which they said, should not be a cause for concern but urged Filipinos to be more vigilant.
“So ingat pa rin tayo tingnan natin ng mabuti. Ako naman po ay nakikiusap sa ating health authorities na pag araln ng mabuti kung dapat ba tayong umatras or umabante dito sa ating mga health protocols. Importante po ang kalusugan ng bawat isa (So let's still be careful let's take a good look. I am pleading with our health authorities to study carefully whether we should retreat or advance here in our health protocols. Everyone's health is important),” Go appealed.
At the same time, Go renewed his appeal for Filipinos who are still unvaccinated to avail of the government’s free COVID-19 vaccination program.
“So delikado pa rin habang anda dyan si COVID, ingat pa rin tayo at magpabakuna po kayo. Kung qualified na kayo sa booster, magpa booster na po tayo (So it's still dangerous while COVID is still here, let's still be careful and get vaccinated. If you are already qualified for the booster, let's get a booster),” the lawmaker reiterated.
“Napakadami pong bakuna na available sa gobyerno. Gamiitn nyo po ito. Mas protektado po kayo pag kayo po ay bakunado (There are many vaccines available from the government. Please use it. You are better protected if you are vaccinated),” he said.