'No border tightening' amid new Covid threat

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa. PPA POOL/ JOHN RYAN BALDEMOR

(UPDATE) THE Department of Health (DoH) on Wednesday said it would not recommend border restrictions amid the resurgence of Covid-19 infections in neighboring Singapore.

"I'm not thinking of border control, mandatory mask... I'm not thinking that, but I'm advising every Filipino to observe minimum public health standards,'' Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said during a briefing in Malacañang.

''No requirement for border control, no requirement for mandatory masks, no requirement for additional vaccination. But we're monitoring these cases,'' he added.

The new Covid variants, known as FLiRT, triggered the surge in cases in Singapore that surpassed the 25,000 mark for the period of May 5 to 11.

Currently, KP.1 and KP.2 make up over two-thirds of the cases in the city-state.

The resurgence of the disease has resulted in high demand for at-home testing kits among Singaporeans.

Herbosa advised the public to get tested for Covid-19 when their respiratory distress last longer than five days, adding the number of Covid-19 infections in the country was still very low.

"We are asking our doctors and hospitals to report antigen testing. For now, the testing is not PCR (polymerase chain reaction); it's rapid antigen. So, we are asking our doctors to report that or even our Epidemiology Bureau," he said.

Herbosa added that while it's possible for the new variant to reach the country, it is not as dangerous as many people think.

"That's why it's classified as [a] variant under monitoring. The one we are monitoring really is ILA or influenza-like illnesses, of which Covid-19 is one of those, right? So, we monitor that. Luckily, even the one in Singapore is mostly respiratory tract infection — cough, common colds... If you are sick, you have a cough, cold, sore throat, better to stay home. If you need to go out, wear a mask," he said.

Herbosa reminded President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has battled Covid-19 three times in the past, to be extra cautious against the disease.

Marcos was due to deliver the keynote address at the opening of the 21st edition of the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, regarded as Asia's premier defense summit, on May 31.

"I'm sure his security would take into consideration the atmosphere or the situation. That's one of the security risks, so they'll take care of that and make sure the President is protected," Herbosa said.

Marcos on Wednesday tasked the Health Department to address the shortage of healthcare workers in the Philippines.

"We will need the human resources, so we saw the gap. I presented to the President that we need to have about 190,000 to actually fill the gaps in our health care system. That's with the net flow, those who migrated as OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) plus those who graduate from our schools," Herbosa said.