Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 14) — COVID-19 in the Philippines is already transitioning from pandemic to endemic as deaths and severe cases decline, Infectious diseases expert Dr. Edsel Salvaña said Thursday.
“We are headed toward endemicity. Nakikita natin tumataas yung mga kaso pero yung mga number of hospitalizations, yung number of deaths, bahagya lang talaga yung galaw nya,” Salvaña said in a briefing.
[Translation: Cases are rising but the number of hospitalizations, number of deaths do not move that much.]
He noted, however, that nothing will stop the virus from mutating as it continues to spread.
While the worst is over for the pandemic in terms of deaths and severe cases, transmission will not end as long as many remain unvaccinated and unboosted, he warned.
Based on the latest data, over 71 million Filipinos have received complete doses of their primary COVD-19 shots. Of the 40 millin eligible, only around 15 million have received their booter dose.
The Department of Health COVID-19 infections in the country may start hitting their peak by end of the month, with more hospital admissions seen by August to September.
Health officials already dicussed redifining “fully vaccinated” with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to encourage more Filipinos to get their booster dose.
READ: Getting first COVID-19 booster shot ‘essential’ vs. new variants health expert
