‘Sense of urgency needed’: Leachon concerned PH not ready for Delta COVID variant

Health reform advocate Dr. Anthony Leachon is worried that the country is not prepared to deal with the impact of the more contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus disease.

Leachon, in a tweet on July 16, has expressed “serious concerns” about the potential spread of the new coronavirus variant in the country.

The Delta variant, first detected in India, has been wreaking havoc in dozens of countries including neighboring Indonesia and Malaysia.

“Are we prepared ? I have serious concerns. I think we are not ready,” he tweeted.

Leachon presented five reasons about the country’s lack of preparedness to deal with the highly transmissible coronavirus variant. Among the factors are the government’s late enforcement of a travel ban on Indonesia, weak testing and contact tracing efforts,and sluggish vaccination effort.

The factors mentioned by Leachon are the following

1. Late travel ban imposed vs Indonesia
2. Not much testings = high positivity rate at 11 %
3. No contact tracing infrastructure
4. Limited genomic surveillance studies
5. Low vaccination rate
   (3.3%)

Leachon issued the comment after vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. stated the country was well prepared against the Delta variant.

In another tweet, the former government adviser pushed for prompt travel restrictions on neighbors with high Delta infections. He said there should be a “sense of urgency” in deciding on the travel ban to prevent the further virus spread.

“Thailand and Malaysia with dangerous surges now ; we need to assess travel ban vs these two countries. Indonesian travel ban was quite late – Delta variant cases are now here in PH with local transmission ! Sense of urgency is needed,” he said.

Are we prepared ? I have serious concerns.
I think we are not ready.
1. Late travel ban imposed vs Indonesia
2. Not much testings = high positivity rate at 11 %
3. No contact tracing infrastructure
4. Limited genomic surveillance studies
5. Low vaccination rate
(3.3%) https://t.co/MZdOjm1M31

— Tony Leachon MD (@DrTonyLeachon) July 16, 2021

Thailand and Malaysia with dangerous surges now ; we need to assess travel ban vs these two countries. Indonesian travel ban was quite late – Delta variant cases are now here in PH with local transmission ! Sense of urgency is needed. CTTO @sarchavez @dzrhnews pic.twitter.com/u9CWvIUEhm

— Tony Leachon MD (@DrTonyLeachon) July 17, 2021

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Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)