DOH: PH health system ready amid threat of Omicron variant

December 6 ------ The Department of Health (DOH) said that the country’s health system remains prepared in the event that COVID-19 cases rise anew amid the threat of the Omicron coronavirus variant. “Handa tayo… Alam natin paano ang gagawin kung magkakaroon man ng high transmissible Omicron variant,” said DOH Undersecretary and Treatment Czar Leopoldo Vega in an interview over radio DZBB on Sunday, Dec. 5.

On Saturday, health authorities said that the presence of the Omicron variant remains undetected in the Philippines. Vega said that experts are still studying the characteristics of this new coronavirus variant first detected in South Africa. “Hindi pa alam ang behavior nito despite of the mutations. Pero ganun man, naghahanda tayo may variant of concern man o wala,” he said. “Talagang alam natin kung paano na ngayon harapin ang COVID-19 lalong lalo na sa healthcare utilization natin o sa mga healthcare facilities,” he added.

Vega said that the overall healthcare utilization in the country remained in the “low-risk” category. “Since start ng mga bandang last week of November hanggang ngayon, bumaba pa talaga yung healthcare utilization natin at sa buong bansa, nasa low risk na po tayo,” he said.

Source: mb.com.ph