Higher Alert Levels not yet recommended by doctors

The group of doctors has not yet recommended increasing the COVID-19 Alert Level in the country despite the threat of a more infectious omicron variant.

“We are not going to actually say or recommend na itaas, kasi sa alert level na ngayon, napansin naman namin na maganda ‘yung naging effect sa mga mamamayan natin dahil hindi na masyadong naglalabas ang mga tao,” said Dr. Maricar Limpin, president of Philippine College of Physicians.

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“But maybe, kasi natatakot din sila dahil nakita nila kung gaano kadami ang nagiging kaso ng COVID-19 sa araw-araw.”

The group of doctors has not yet recommended increasing the COVID-19 Alert Level in the country despite the threat of a more infectious omicron variant.

“Karamihan naa-admit sa ICU, 85 percent, hindi bakunado,” she said.

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She said most of those taken to the hospital were mild or moderate COVID-19 cases.

Limpin, on the other hand, did not like the statement of an expert that the omicron variant was the possible end of the pandemic because its symptoms were mild.

Higher Alert Levels not yet recommended by doctors

“I think it is quite irresponsible ng isang tao kung sasabihan lang niya na mild,” she said.

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“Majority ng tao, magiging mild, at the most, moderate lang ang presentation. Pero kung ikaw ay may comorbid conditions at ikaw ay senior citizen, ang possibility na magkakaroon ng severe COVID ay mataas.”

“Napakaaga pa po para sabihin natin na itong omicron variant will be the end of the pandemic,” Limpin added.

Meanwhile, the occupancy rate of some private hospitals in Metro Manila has reached a critical level due to the increase in COVID-19 cases.

The occupancy rate of 20 other hospitals is considered “high-risk” or 70 to 85 percent, Dr. Jose Rene De Grano, president of the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, said.

According to De Grano, most hospitalized patients have not been vaccinated or have not been fully vaccinated. It is also said that many children get sick with COVID-19 but usually their symptoms are moderate.

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