Manila Bulletin
‘Omicron is not mild’: Expert urges public not to be complacent amid spike of cases
Infectious disease expert Dr. Edsel Salvana stated that the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is not mild and should not be underestimated.
He cautioned that Omicron is a virus and can cause significant harm, unlike vaccines which are safe and do not infect people.
Salvana emphasized that the World Health Organization (WHO) advises against calling Omicron mild, despite lower risks of severe disease and death for fully vaccinated individuals.
He pointed out that unvaccinated or vulnerable populations remain at risk.
The expert's statement comes amid a spike in COVID-19 cases and contrasts with remarks by OCTA Research fellow Fr. Nicanor Austriaco, who called Omicron a 'blessing' and the 'beginning of the end' of the pandemic.
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OCTA Research Fellow Fr. Nicanor Austriaco stated that the Omicron variant of COVID-19 signifies the beginning of the end of the pandemic.
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An infectious disease expert suggests that local transmission of the Omicron variant is highly probable due to the significant increase in new COVID-19 cases.
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Health experts suggest that the rapid rise in COVID-19 infections across the country could be attributed to the highly transmissible Omicron variant.
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The Department of Health (DOH) is presuming that the Omicron variant wave has started to grow in the Philippines due to the daily doubling of COVID-19 cases.
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The Department of Health (DOH) and local health experts are refuting the idea that the Omicron variant of COVID-19 acts as a 'natural vaccine' signaling the pandemic's end.
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