A Department of Health (DOH) adviser said that there is no indication as of the moment that there’s a local transmission of the Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1 in the country, although it is “possible.”
“Sa ngayon walang indication ‘yan kasi — I mean it’s possible lalo na ang bilis manghawa ng Omicron,” Dr. Edsel Salvana said during the Laging Handa briefing.
“But usually para masabi namin na meron nang local transmission, lalo na ‘yung tinatawag na sustained local transmission, tinitignan natin ‘yung transmission chains niyan at makikita natin kung matre-trace ba natin,” he added.
Salvaña, who is a member of the Department of Health-Technical Advisory Group, said that the 12 cases of BA.2.12.1 reported in Palawan were from a single cluster. The two cases in Metro Manila, on the other hand, are under investigation.
“Sa ngayon pinag-aaralan pa po ‘yan, but it’s always safer to assume na nandiyan na ‘yan kaya kinakailangan po patuloy ‘yung pag iingat natin,” he said.
— Ronald Espartinez