DOH: Omicron variant four times more contagious than Delta
WHILE health authorities are still determining the lethality of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, but they all agree on one thing: it’s more contagious than Delta.
This was bared by Dr. Rheuel Bobis, COVID-19 focal person of Department of Health – Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) Region 1, in an interview on Wednesday, January 5.
Bobis cited a study from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the DOH that determined that Omicron is four times faster in transmissibility compared to the Delta that recently ravaged many countries last year.
With its higher transmissibility compared to other COVID variants, people should further take caution.
This, however does not necessarily mean that it is more dangerous than previous variants because there is still no evidence that Omicron is deadlier than Delta.
As of Tuesday, January 4 monitoring, CHD recorded 52 new COVID-19 cases in the region: 31 were from Pangasinan, nine from Dagupan City, nine from La Union, and three from Ilocos Norte. But no case of COVID with Omicron variant was established.
Bobis said he expects higher numbers of infected individuals in the weeks ahead.
He urged the public to immediately call their town’s Rural Health Unit as soon as they feel COVID-19-related symptoms. He discourages self-medication.
“Mag-isolate po agad”, he said. (Ahikam Pasion)
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
