“Unang-una nakikita natin ngayon, if we lift the public
health emergency, hindi na tayo nati-threaten ngayon sa mga kaso na marami. So,
I think ang mga kaso natin for the past month, even after the holiday, iyong
Christmas holiday, ang mga kaso natin nag-stabilize na to (First of all, if the
public health emergency is lifted, we are currently no longer threatened by
spikes in cases. Our cases for the past month, even after the Christmas
holiday, already stabilized to) less than 1,000,” he added.

Manila Bulletin

Solante also emphasized that several people
already have protection through vaccination.

(MB)

“I think na-attain na natin iyong
pinakaimportante nating population immunity at this point in time, dahil marami
ng nakatanggap ng primary vaccine series at marami na ring nagka-infection (we
have also attained population immunity at this point in time, because many have
already received the primary vaccine series and many have also been infected).
So, we [have] that hybrid immunity,” he added.

More than a million people marched in France Thursday to protest pension reforms, with some demonstrators clashing with police in Paris, as strikes disrupted public transport, schools and much of the civil service.https://t.co/O0EbzGg2Ks — Manila Bulletin News (@manilabulletin) January 20, 2023

However, Solante still emphasized the importance of using face masks even once the WHO lifts the Covid-19 public health emergency of international concern. “Kung i-lift man ang public health emergency, it is because na manageable na iyong mga kaso, hindi na napupuno ang mga hospital at marami na ring nabakunahan. But nandito pa rin ang Covid sa community. So, paalaala lang na ang face mask is an important tool na hindi tayo magkakahawaan at hindi tayo makakuha ng infection (If the public health emergency is lifted, it is because the cases are manageable, hospitals are no longer full and many have been vaccinated. But Covid is still here in the community. So, just a reminder that the face mask is an important tool so that we don’t get infected and we don’t get an infection),” he said.

“Iyong (The) face mask will be an important
tool for us as we move on with Covid-19. So ang mga tao ay ini-encourage pa rin
na magsuot ng mask especially for those may mga exposure, doon sa mga high risk
na mga population kagaya ng mga matanda at mga immunocompromised, at kung
pupunta tayo sa mga lugar na matao at hindi maganda ang ventilation (people are
still encouraged to wear masks especially for those with exposures, those considered
high risk populations such as the elderly and immunocompromised, and if we go
to crowded areas, and in poorly ventilated areas),” he added.

He also highlighted the importance of
further promoting the Covid-19 vaccination.

Based on a Reuters’ report, officials of
the WHO are set to discuss on Jan. 27 “whether the Covid-19 pandemic still
represents a global emergency.”

To recall, the then novel coronavirus (now
known as Covid-19) first spread in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and since then
rapidly spread across the world. In January 2020, the WHO declared the virus
outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern. The WHO
declared the Covid-19 outbreak a pandemic in March 2020.

The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (ID) awarded 55 soldiers and policemen with medals for their bravery during a clash in Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental on Jan. 9, that resulted into the death of a New People’s Army member.https://t.co/xCB2NjfSnP

— Manila Bulletin News (@manilabulletin) January 20, 2023