MANILA: An upsurge in Covid-19 cases may occur in the Philippines if quarantine restrictions are eased, given the country has yet to start vaccinations and the looming threat of new variants.
The warning came from the World Health Organisation (WHO), according to the Inquirer.net portal.
In a public briefing here on Thursday, WHO country representative Rabindra Abeyasinghe said the Phillipine government need to weigh the fact that Covid-19 cases in the country are still "plateauing".
"It hasn't flattened yet and so we still need to be conscious of the fact that there is a relatively high level of transmission there in the community and that the situation is also complicated by the presence of new variants," he said.
"If we now go for large-scale relaxation of measures, given the current existing situation and the circulation of variants, and the fact that it will still be many months before a large proportion of Filipinos are vaccinated, we may witness a situation where there will be an upsurge of cases and the overwhelming of the health [care system]," he added.
Abeyasinghe was reacting to the proposal to place the country under modified general community quarantine, a less restrictive quarantine classification, and the reopening of cinemas, among other establishments, by March.
The recommendations were made by the National Economic Development Authority.
He said it was understandable that there are "significant economic burdens on sectors of the population" due to restrictions.
But Abeyasinghe said measures should be "carefully calibrated and decided upon before being implemented".
He said the Philippines has so far been able to contain the spread of Covid-19 and prevent the healthcare system from being overwhelmed because of restrictions.
"I firmly believe that we still need to maintain these restrictions.
"That doesn't mean that we cannot loosen up in areas where the economy will benefit," he added.
Abeyasinghe said easing restrictions should be done in a "very targeted manner" with an understanding of both economic benefits and health risks.