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Delta variant no laughing matter

Take the Delta variant seriously. Get your vaccines.

National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 Deputy Chief Implementer Secretary Vince Dizon said Wednesday these are crucial to curb the spread of the more transmissible coronavirus variant.

“Kailangan pong seryosohin natin itong Delta variant na umiikot na dito sa mga iba’t-iba nating siyudad. Nakita natin ang experience po ng ibang bansa. Kailangan maghanda tayo dito at kailangan lahat ng option ay maging open tayo kung ano ang puwedeng gawin (We need to take seriously this Delta variant that is already circulating in various cities here. We have seen the experience of other countries. We need to prepare for it and we need to be open to all options and what can be done more),” Dizon said in an interview at the Laging Handa press briefing.

All decisions must be guided by the experts, he said, because responding to the Covid-19 pandemic must be a balance between the health aspect and the socio-economic impact.

“Talaga pong napakadelikado nitong Delta variant kaya dapat po talagang maghanda tayo ng mabuti at bilisan natin lalo ang ating pagbabakuna (The Delta variant is really very dangerous so we really have to prepare well and speed up our vaccination),” he said.

He assured the government is taking all necessary steps against the possible spread of the Delta variant, including stockpiling more medical supplies, preparing intensive care unit beds and regular patient beds, and intensifying inoculation activities.

“Nakikita natin sa eksperiyensya ng ibang bansa na tinamaan din ng Delta na ‘pag ikaw ay bakunado, lalo na bakunado ng buo ibig sabihin kumpleto na ang bakuna, very minimal po ang magiging epekto (We have seen the experience of other countries hit by the Delta that once you are vaccinated, especially with two doses, that means you are fully vaccinated, then the variant will have minimal effect on you),” Dizon said.

To date, the Department of Health said there are still 16 active Delta variant cases in the Philippines, out of the total 119.

Of the 119 carriers, 29 were unvaccinated, six were fully vaccinated, seven received one dose, and the 77 others were still being verified.

Source: Philippines News Agency