Top pulmonologist Dr. Bryan Cepedoza has warned Boholanos about the possibility of a surge in cases of the Coronavirus disease (Covid).
He issued his statement in a radio interview over OPEN FORUM on dyTR’s Balita 91.1 FM hosted by Gloria Leodivica Araneta and Dave Albarado on Jan. 6, 2022.
He observed that after several weeks of having no Covid admissions, he has now patients who are Covid infected.
The pulmonologist warned that the surge of cases being experienced in Manila will soon happen in other places and eventually be seen here in Bohol if people will not follow the protocol.
He urged the people to still observe health protocol and to get vaccinated or booster shots to prevent severe cases of Covid.
Moreover, Cepedoza mentioned that the vaccines that are available remain effective against severe form of Covid.
Based on the report of the Bohol Inter Agency Task Force (BIATF), the province has 35 active Covid cases as of Jan. 6, 2022. This comes as the province already recorded as low as 10 active cases at the end of 2021.
As far as the Omicron variant is concerned, he said that people should nor be complacent about the prevailing variant called Omicron even if some health experts say that the new virus strain produces less severe cases of Covid.
“Dili ta angay magkompyansa ani [nga Omicron variant] bisan miingon ang mga scientists nga less severe kuno sya compared sa giingon nato nga Delta variant,” the doctor said during the interview.
The problem with Omicron is that the variant is highly infectious because the mutations on the spike protein make the virus more sticky and able to enter the body in a short duration of exposure to an infected person, Cepedoza explained.
However, based on feedback from fellow pulmonologists in Manila and abroad, both Omicron and Delta variants have the same ability to cause severe Covid, he mentioned in the interview.