Gov. Arthur Yap has expressed concern over the rising cases of Coronavirus disease (Covid) in the province.
He aired his concern during a virtual press conference on Jan. 21, 2022.
The governor pointed out that on Jan. 1, 2022 the number of active Covid cases back then was 17.
As of 8 am on Jan. 22, 2022, the number of active cases in Bohol totalled 847.
In just a matter of weeks, the rise of the number of cases is “alarming” the governor said during the press conference.
In the same press conference, Department of Health-Bohol representative Niel John Oclarit emphasized that while there were 2 Boholano overseas Filipino workers who tested positive for the Covid variant called Omicron, they have already been quarantined in Cebu and have recovered.
Thus, Oclarit said that officially, the Omicron variant has not entered Bohol.
The basis to tell whether or not the said variant is already in Bohol will be based on the result of the genome sequencing done at the Philippine Genome Center (PGC) on the samples taken from local residents infected by the virus.
As of the moment, the samples taken in Bohol have yet to yield a result showing the presence of Omicron variant.
“The only basis to tell naa ba tay Omicron variant sa Bohol, kadtong genome sequencing. As of now, wala tay reports nga naa [na kitay kaso sa Omicron variant dire sa Bohol]; wala tay reports nga na receive nga naa tay Omicron variant sa Bohol nga local case,” Oclarit said.
For his part, the governor urged the people to strictly follow the health and safety protocol and get themselves vaccinated.
The governor added that people should remember that we are still in the middle of a pandemic.
“Ang responsibilidad sa pagprotekta sa kaugalingon wala sa kamot sa gobyerno,” the governor emphasized.