By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews
Earlier this week, the Philippines Department of Health (DOH) reported an additional 12 Delta variant cases, all local cases, bringing the total case count to 47.
This prompted government officials to emphasize the need to continuously enforce strict border control measures and intensify local COVID-19 responses.
The country has been implementing travel bans and stringent border control measures to delay the entry of the variant, giving the country a headstart to prepare its capacity to manage potential surges.
Following the phylogenetic analysis conducted by the University of the Philippines – Philippine Genome Center, and case investigation by the DOH Epidemiology Bureau and the regional and local epidemiology and surveillance units, clusters of Delta variant cases were seen to be linked to other local cases, therefore, exhibiting local transmission.
Upon detection of local cases with the Delta variant, the DOH explained that the government has initiated enhanced COVID-19 response in areas where Delta variant cases were detected through the implementation of the four-door strategy. Both the national and local governments have been continuously working together to intensify the implementation of the prevent, detect, isolate, treat, and re-integrate response strategies and increase the country’s health system capacity to be able to manage cases.
Furthermore, the government together with other National Government Agencies, Centers for Health Development, local government units (LGUs), and the private sector, has been ensuring that there are enough COVID-19-dedicated ward, ICU, and TTMF beds in the country, especially in areas experiencing case spikes. The government is also preparing for enough supplies of COVID-19 medicines, oxygen tanks, and critical care equipment in hospitals and augmentation of human resources.
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The DOH reminds the public that while the government is strengthening the implementation of PDITR at the local level and augmenting the healthcare capacity, the best defense against any COVID-19 variant is still the correct and consistent adherence to the minimum public health standards and getting vaccinated when it is their turn.
Moreover, the public is advised to avoid unnecessary travels and gatherings. DOH urges LGUs to shorten the duration of case detection to isolation and immediately isolate symptomatic patients, and ramp up their vaccination and prioritize the senior citizens and people with underlying conditions. The DOH further calls on everyone to work together to beat the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The article makes no mention of vaccine administration. We have an excess supply of vaccine in the U.S. and millions of people who refuse to take it. Could not we ship those doses to people who want it? Perhaps Canadian officials could coordinate with U.S. officials a plan and an effort to secure those doses before they expire and send them to The Philippines. The transportation and distribution infrastructure already exists. It’s pretty basic and simple really. Put freezers loaded with vaccine on FedEx jets and get it done. If there are political obstacles then it might be effective to appoint a “Vaccine Distribution Czar” with special powers to fire or push people out of the way who are blocking the progress, and also with powers to hire people who can get the job done fast. Even Donald Trump characterized it as a “war” on Covid. If we call it a “war” then we should behave like it’s a war. There is a great urgency here. It needs to get done now. Where are the “can do” people? I wish FDR were alive. He would appoint the toughest czars you ever saw, and all obstacles would be swept aside. It would get done very, very quickly. Again, there is an urgency to this. Time is of the greatest essence. If there are entry restrictions and delays for the private enterprise carriers, then we could use military transport. Make a list of the obstacles and start checking off each item with a solution. Shipments could begin today. Make a list and check it off. Get a czar. Please. I feel sorry for the people who refuse to take the vaccine. But it takes forever to educate people about science and while we’re waiting for stubborn minds to change, doses are expiring. Their stubbornness is their freedom, true. But wasting doses while there are people who want them is a sin.
Okay, there was a mention. But still, to let doses expire is wrong.