Holiday COVID-19 spike to be seen by 2nd week of January

MANILA, Philippines — A surge in COVID-19 cases this Christmas season could be expected by the end of December up to the second week of January 2021, an official of the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) said yesterday.

According to PCP vice president Maricar Limpin, it will take one to two weeks for the spike in cases to reflect in the country’s data for COVID-19.

“Given that the incubation period for COVID-19 is up to two weeks, we may see a rising trend by the end of the year up to middle of January,” she told The STAR.

Limpin was referring to the period during which the symptoms of COVID-19 usually come out.

She expressed hope that the expected surge can somehow be minimized since the celebration of the New Year has not taken place yet.

Limpin said the surge could be avoided if the public would strictly adhere to the minimum health standards against COVID-19.

“As we welcome the New Year, we should not disregard our safety and the safety of our love ones. COVID-19 is still around and we should always be on guard,” she noted.

She warned the public that stricter community quarantine rules might again be imposed by the government if there would be a surge in COVID-19 cases after the holidays.

“I don’t think anyone of us wants a lockdown so we have to do our part. Let us adhere to the health protocols against COVID-19,” she added.

Limpin is a co-convenor of Health Professionals Alliance Against COVID-19 (HPAAC), which is advocating for the strict adherence to health measures this holiday season.

The group has advised the public against “crossing households” to celebrate Christmas and New Year as this could trigger the transmission of the virus.

They also reiterated the health protocol for physical distancing. If gathering cannot be avoided, this should be limited to only 10 individuals and this must be held in an open space.

HPAAC has also advised that distancing must still be observed among relatives and it is best if their contacts can be limited to not more than 30 minutes.

The group also stressed the need to wear face masks and face shields, among other protocols.

Health protocols

Despite the projection of the OCTA Research Team that COVID-19 might reach 4,000 cases daily during the holidays, presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. expressed belief that Filipinos have been observing the minimum health protocols and that the cases would be kept at a manageable rate.

Roque said the government is keen on pumping up the economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic in light of a new variant of the virus which originated from the United Kingdom.

“I think, the Filipinos will be able to disprove (critics) that they cannot follow the protocols during the holidays,” he said in Filipino.

Roque reiterated that the concerned government agencies are working even during the Christmas break to determine the steps to take in the next few days as regards the quarantine classification.

Metro Manila, Batangas, Iloilo City, Tacloban, Iligan, Lanao del Sur, Davao City and Isabela are under general community quarantine until Dec. 31. The rest of the country is under modified GCQ.

Roque downplayed the opinion of Limpin that cases could reach 4,000 daily as a result of the increase in physical interactions among families and friends during the holidays.

With the new variant recorded in the UK, Roque said the public should continue the strict enforcement of social distancing measures and the other minimum health standards. – Christina Mendez