President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday assured the public that health authorities are monitoring “very closely” the coronavirus Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5, adding that the country is still “in the same status.”
“So, we’re watching it. Of course, very closely. But so far, mukha naman maayos, mukha namang nama-manage natin,” President Marcos said in an interview after his ocular inspection of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
Government agencies and instrumentalities are not letting their guard down, especially with concerns about the Omicron subvariant XBB 1.5, according to the President.
“At, mukha naman kagaya ng mga bagong variant na mga pumapasok dito, na dumadating, nakaabang tayo. Binabantayan natin nang husto,” the President pointed out.
At present, the Philippines is still free of this more transmissible subvariant of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
Like before, the President said he has always “looked at the hospitals and the occupancy rate” in assessing the situation about the COVID-19 variants.
“Kasi I start to worry pagka ‘yung ospital ay hindi na kaya tanggapin ang pasyente dahil punong-puno na sila. Wala pa tayo roon,” Marcos said.
“What has happened, nag-increase ang occupancy rate ng mga ospital dahil ‘yung hindi nagpa-ospital ng dalawang taon, ngayon pumupunta sa ospital. It’s not for COVID, it’s for other things,” the chief executive said.
The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday said it is confident in the detection of new variants of the coronavirus and assured Filipinos of the government’s continued surveillance and monitoring efforts.
“The DOH further reiterates that COVID-19 variants will continue to emerge and re-emerge. What’s important is we continue to employ our layers of protection such as sanitation, masking, distancing, vaccination and boosters, as well as good ventilation to keep cases manageable and prevent virus transmission,” the DOH said in a statement. (PND)
