MANILA-No severe coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases so far have been recorded by health authorities despite having an uptick of active cases, Vaccine Expert Panel member, Dr. Rontgene Solante, said Wednesday. In a televised public briefing, Solante cited those Covid-19 patients needing oxygen treatment and experiencing respiratory failures have been significantly reduced, following the surge caused by the coronavirus variant. "Well, one good thing, one good news is that despite na nakikita natin na may kaunting uptick ang mga kaso ngayon (seeing a slight uptick now in cases), we have never seen any more Covid cases na talagang nagsi-severe (that are really severe)," he said. The OCTA Research Group earlier said Covid-19 cases in Metro Manila have climbed to 1.4 percent this week, compared to 1.2 percent in the previous week. The one-week average daily attack rate also increased from 0.51 to 0.52, however it remained at low risk. "So our assumption to this is that,
(File photo) MANILA - A member of the Vaccine Experts Panel (VEP) on Monday said there is no data yet showing that the general public would benefit from the second booster dose of Covid-19 vaccine. In a televised public briefing, Dr. Rontgene Solante, also an infectious disease expert, said a second booster shot of Covid-19 is an effective defense against Omicron subvariant BA.4 which is more transmissible compared to the other variants. However, it is not recommended for the general public yet. "For now, there's no data to tell us that the general public will benefit from a second booster that's why monitoring those vaccinated and also boosted is important," he said. "And if we have more cases of fully vaccinated already and with the first booster and yet getting the infection then there's more reason to believe a second booster is needed in order to maintain that wall of immunity for the general population." Only the healthcare workers, immunocompromis
MANILA - The number of Covid-19 cases may increase following the local transmission of Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1 but it would not affect the hospital utilization rate nationwide, an infectious diseases expert said Thursday. In a televised public briefing, Dr. Rontgene Solante, Vaccine Experts Panel member, said the subvariant would not affect the hospital utilization rate because it may not cause severe infection to the general population even if it is highly transmissible than the original Omicron variant. "I don't think it will affect. di gaya nung nakita natin sa Delta na nahirapan huminga, mataas ang mortality (unlike what we've seen with the Delta variant, there was difficulty in breathing, the mortality was high)," Solante said. "This [increase in cases] will occur especially in regions with low vaccination rate, siguro mas mahigitan pa natin ang 500 [average daily cases] na nakikita natin (we might get more than 500 average daily cases we've seen) b
(PNA file photo) MANILA - The country logged 109 new cases of Covid-19 on May 11, bringing the total tally to 3,687,428, the OCTA Research Group said Thursday. In a tweet, OCTA Research Group fellow Dr. Guido David said the figure is lower but close to the forecast of 120 cases. Citing data from the Department of Health, David said there were 3,328 active cases and no new deaths were recorded. The death toll stood at 60,439. About 418 new recoveries bringing the total number of recovered cases to 3,623,661. Earlier, Dr. Rontgene Solante, Vaccine Experts Panel member, said an uptick in cases is expected a week or two weeks after the national election. Solante added there had been super spreader events prior to the election day such as political sorties where minimum public health standards were violated. As of May 11, a total of 68,526,134 Filipinos are now fully-vaccinated against Covid-19. A total of 13,519,545 eligible individuals have received their booster shots. (PNA) }
(PNA photo by Robert Alfiler) MANILA - An infectious diseases expert is not discounting the possible rise in the number of Covid-19 infections after the election week. In a televised public briefing Wednesday, Dr. Rontgene Solante, Vaccine Experts Panel member, said there had been super spreader events prior to the election day such as political sorties where minimum public health standards were violated. "In fact, meron tayo mga nakitaan ngayon na ibang mga pasyente na merong mga mild symptoms lang naman, and they are positive, so, ibig sabihin dun nakuha 'yan, either sa presinto or before siya bumoto at bumoto siya nakuha niya (We've seen patients with mild symptoms, and they're positive, so it means, they got it either at the precinct or before they voted) so, those are the possible scenarios," he added. Earlier, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said some 31 voters nationwide were sent home on election day to self-isolate due to Covid-19-related sym