By JEN BAYLON
The Negros Occidental Provincial Health Office (PHO) said there is no cause for alarm amid the rising cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) FLiRT variant reported in other countries.
PHO head Dr. Girlie Pinongan said the symptoms of the FLiRT variant are the same as past variants of COVID-19.
Pinongan said the PHO is surveying through health offices in 31 local government units in the province for possible quarantine and treatment facilities.
“We are working closely with local government units to ensure that they are equipped to handle the situation,” Pinongan said.
“We want to be ready to respond quickly and effectively if needed,” she added.
Earlier, the Bacolod City government encouraged residents to exercise caution following the detection of the new FLiRT subvariant in some countries.
Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez advised residents to wear masks anew once in an enclosed space, his spokesperson Caesar Distrito said on Wednesday, May 29.
In a health advisory, Benitez said that wearing of face masks is encouraged for persons who have flu or any respiratory tract infection, as well as the immunocompromised, senior citizens and children.
Benitez said a close surveillance on the new variant is highly done in the city.
“As this is still a variant, monitoring and close surveillance are highly done in Bacolod and the entire country,” he said.
Meanwhile, the City Health Office (CHO) has also recommended several precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including:
* Staying home when sick
* Observing proper coughing and sneezing etiquette by covering the mouth and nose
* Practicing good hygiene by washing or sanitizing hands often
* Disinfecting frequently-touched surfaces
* Encouraging outdoor gatherings
* Getting vaccinated against flu, pneumonia and COVID-19 whenever possible
The CHO was ordered to monitor the situation and prepare the necessary health response plan.
The city government is also preparing for the possible acquisition of vaccines, Councilor Claudio Puentevella said on Wednesday.
The Department of Health (DOH) has also advised the public to observe minimum public health standards, even though the country remains at low risk for COVID-19.
The DOH ordered all entry points in the country to implement stringent screening for visitors arriving from countries with cases of the new variant./JB, WDJ