THE public is urged to continue to be vigilant as a Delta subvariant called AY 4.2 was identified, and should serve as a reminder to be cautious as the threat of the SARS-CoV-2 virus persists.
Although not yet detected in the Philippines, the AY 4.2 is believed to be more transmissible, and its presence was already reported in European nations, including Japan and Israel.
According to Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Police General Guillermo Eleazar, “We don’t want to create fear or panic among the public but this should serve as a reminder that the discovery of the Delta subvariant in other countries means that the threat of the pandemic is still there. We still need to be extra cautious because it might cause another increase in cases if we become complacent,” PGen Eleazar said.
“The public can expect that our experts are all focused on this subvariant. For now, what the public can do is to sill follow the health protocols and cooperate with the authorities and officials to curb the spread of the coronavirus,” he added.
PGen Eleazar said the organization is prepared for any changes on border protocols to prevent the subvariant from reaching the country.
At present, the Department of Health (DOH) is waiting for more information from the international health organizations about the subvariant.
The DOH called for vigilance on COVID-19 infections and said that each case must be isolated immediately.