ILOILO City – Due to the threat posed by the “FLiRT” virus variant of COVID-19, the Department of Health (DOH) Region 6 advises the public to adhere to minimum public health standards, particularly good respiratory hygiene. This includes wearing facemasks when experiencing symptoms or in crowded places.
Dr. Bea Camille Natalaray, head of the Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases (EREIDS) at DOH-6, emphasized that although the FLiRT virus variant has not yet been detected in the region, maintaining health protocols is crucial, especially for senior citizens and individuals with comorbidities.
COVID-19 symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, and loss of smell, among others.
Tagged by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a variant under monitoring, FLiRT is noted for its rapid transmission capabilities.
“The FLiRT variant spreads faster as it is an offshoot of the JN.1 and Omicron variants. However, there is no evidence yet that this variant causes severe or critical symptoms, with most cases presenting mild symptoms,” explained Natalaray.
As part of its surveillance and monitoring efforts, DOH-6 continues to send specimens to the Philippine Genome Center in Metro Manila to determine the presence of various COVID-19 variants in the region. These specimens are collected by DOH-6 and local health personnel from areas with recorded clusters of cases.
DOH-6 also requires health authorities, including doctors and nurses, to report any patients diagnosed with COVID-19 for monitoring.
The Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) in Mandurriao district continues to accept samples for testing.
Additionally, DOH-6 conducts surveillance in collaboration with the Bureau of Quarantine at all regional ports of entry, including airports and seaports, especially for travelers from countries like Thailand and Singapore where the FLiRT variant has been reported.
Currently, guidelines for positive COVID-19 cases include a five-day home quarantine and facemask requirement for asymptomatic and mild cases, and a 10-day home isolation and facemask requirement for moderate and severe cases. Asymptomatic close contacts are advised to wear facemasks for ten days.
As of this week, the region has recorded a total of 212,111 COVID-19 cases with 6,885 deaths. Between May 26 and June 1, 2024, there were 138 new cases reported, marking a 123 percent increase from the previous week’s figures. The current daily average is 20 cases.
Regarding healthcare utilization, 186 out of 1,267 non-ICU (intensive care unit) beds are occupied, accounting for 14.68 percent, while 5 out of 99 ICU beds are in use, representing 5.05 percent./PN
