By Pearl Gumapos
Department of Health vaccine expert Dr. Lulu Bravo said that the Indian COVID-19 variant may be quick to infect people, but it does not mean that it’s more dangerous or severe during an interview on May 10 with PTV News.
“Meron mga variant na mas mabilis makahawa dahil mas mabilis kumapit sa mga tao, but that doesn’t mean na mas delikado o mas severe. Karamihan ay pareho lang naman ang severity. Iyon lang pagkahawa ang mabilis talaga,” Bravo said, who is also the executive director of the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination (PFV).
Bravo said the solution to the health issue was a lockdown.
Meanwhile, Bravo advised future electoral candidates and the COMELEC to not hold mass gatherings for the upcoming election next year.
“Kung mahal nila ang ating bayan, kung mahal nila ang ating mga kapwa Pilipino, kung mahal nila ang kaligtasan at kalusugan natin, huwag naman sila magkaroon ng ganyang [gathering]. Kawawa ang ating bayan.”
This variant – officially known as B.1.617 – was first detected in India in October 2020.
-PG-rir