Manila Bulletin
MB Daily News Update April 28: Polls to push through despite Covid threat
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has affirmed that postponing the May 9 elections is not an option, regardless of new COVID-19 Omicron sub-variant fears.
Comelec Commissioner Rey Bulay stated that the threat of a new surge in Covid-19 infections isn't reason enough to postpone the polls.
The Comelec aims to make the upcoming polls "Covid-proof," a task that has become more important with the recent entry of the BA.2.12 Omicron subvariant to the Philippines.
Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire stated that the BA.2.12 subvariant is 2.5 times more transmissible than the original Omicron variant.
However, experts suggest that BA.2.12 causes less severe infections than the original form of Omicron.
Familiar anti-coronavirus measures will be enforced at polling places, including temperature checks, physical distancing, face masks, and health declaration forms.
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