According to the latest data gathered by the World Health Organization, there have been a total of 318,648,834 confirmed cases of Covid-19 all around the world as of the early days of January, including a total number of 5,518,343 deaths. While in South-East Asian countries, there is a total of 46, 865, 269 number of confirmed positive cases of Covid 19 as of today - a large portion of those numbers came from the Philippines.
Currently, there is a growth of numbers of positive cases of Covid 19 according to the OCTA Research Group. The Department of Health has raised the National Capital Region and its neighboring regions under Alert Level 3 as the cities have critical reproduction numbers. It is also noted by the OCTA Group Research that so far, this is the worst surge since the start of the pandemic as the recent number per day had already reached around 37,000 of the total number confirmed positive cases. In addition, there is also an increase in the numbers of new cases in areas located outside the National Capital Region especially in Naga, Dagupan, Lucena, Olongapo, Iloilo, Lapu-lapu, Cagayan de Oro, and Davao.
Although the rollout of vaccines truly helped in mitigating this pandemic condition during the middle quarter of last year, the sudden surge of new cases is a clear manifestation that there is an exponential increase of cases. How come all the countries are currently experiencing this surge? What are the causes of a surge? Below are some of the reasons why there is a Covid surge.
Immunity to Covid -19
On one hand, 54.42% of Filipinos are already vaccinated. On the other hand, 58.51% already got their first dose. Considering half of the total population in the Philippines still have not got their vaccine, a big part of this demography is still exposed to the virus. There are still places and locations in the Philippines that are still unreached by the vaccine roll-out especially in the rural areas. Furthermore, there are cases wherein vaccinated individuals still had symptomatic conditions of Covid-19 – contributing to the increasing number of new cases every day. While there is still a number of people who are unvaccinated, this makes the vulnerability to infection being high still.
New Variants
One of the properties of viruses is their possibility of mutations, making it a different profile to the current existing virus. Each mutation of the virus may or may not be different in terms method of mitigating them. There were past mutations of Covid that had milder symptoms, while some were very contagious. Delta variant, one of the variants of Covid-19, was considered the most contagious. To date, the Omicron variant is now considered as the most contagious variant – might be the primary cause of the current covid surge outbreak. A recent study also shows that there was only 35% effectiveness of a Pfizer vaccine in preventing symptomatic conditions against Omicron; 75 percent effective as soon as it is boosted by another Pfizer vaccine. Nevertheless, being fully vaccinated prevent individuals from being hospitalized with severe symptoms. Although the Omicron variant is said to have milder symptoms, it still greatly affects the increasing number of new cases.
Local and Household Transmissions
Lots of Filipino families were still in their post-holiday phase - from Christmas to New Year’s Celebration. Together with their post-holiday break were the emerging cases of symptoms of each member related to covid-19: sore throat, dry cough, and runny nose to name a few. Although the authority said that it was not encouraged to be in the congregation while celebrating, some still chose to hold their parties. With that, it is true that it contributed a lot to the local transmission of the virus. Now, families are already inside their home especially during restricted precautions, it is undeniable that there might be still local and household transmission within every family member. It might come from undetected exposure to an asymptomatic covid-positive individual that was transmitted during their contact (e.g., commuting in a public utility vehicle, while working in an office, while buying goods and groceries in the mall, and alike). During this surge, some actually experienced similar symptoms with covid. Although not confirmed that these cases are in relation to the said virus due to lack of testing kits, the possibility of it being a covid-19 is still there. And those cases are undocumented by the local government.
Immunocompromised and their Biological Factors
One factor that also contributes to the increasing cases of covid positives is the vulnerability of the immunocompromised and people with comorbidities such as asthma and alike. These people are vulnerable not only to the virus but also to being hospitalized due to severe cases. These people also include the senior citizens which also have a higher risk of being damaged once infected.
Reluctant to Public Safety Measures
It is evident, especially when people are out there in the public, that they are reluctant in following safety protocols when they know that the new cases are low. They have a tendency to just relax when they know that the documented cases flashed on the news are still not yet that crucial. Ending, they only respond to following the safety protocols once the numbers are at risk again. It became an unending cycle. Hence, chances of being infected with the virus while they are also unwillingly following the protocols are at high-increasing new cases.
While people are still in the middle of the merging and re-emerging surges of covid-19, they need to make sure that they have a proper shelter that can sustain their living amidst pandemics. Good thing, Vista Residence is here offering ready-for-occupancy condominium units that will truly look great with their personal condo design while they are having their home quarantine. Vista Residences come up with condominium properties in urban areas primarily in Manila and other districts in the metro.
Vista Residences has been providing various families a recommendable sense of security, comfort, and accessibility as they are one of the leading condominium property developers here in the country. Their units are commonly for a wide range of primary users as well, from young professionals, students, small families, and even extended families as well. This also gets better providing services with these users as it is near major community anchors such as commercial establishments like malls and pop-up stores, institutions such as schools, and other available spaces for the public such as outdoor parks.
Vista Residences is now also anticipated to bring more condominium properties to other developing districts ranging from mid-rise to high-rise properties in locations such as in Manila, Quezon City, Mandaluyong, Ortigas, Baguio, Cebu, and Cagayan De Oro. Vista Residences is also looking forward to ongoing projects nationwide such as Morrison Heights (near UST-Manila), Sky Arts Manila Tower 2 (near Robinsons Place Manila), Encore (near NAIA), Vista Shaw Tower 2 (Ortigas), and the Courtyard – Katherine Building (Taguig). Truly, Vista Residences offers enough properties located in the heart of the metro.
Certainly, Vista Residences has been assuring good quality condo living through their varying condominium units that can be personalized with the tenant’s preferred condo design and pegs. With its services provided, Vista Residences prioritizes comfortability making sure that the tenants are supported holistically through their added amenities and leisure available. Also, with its convenience to other establishments, Vista Residences also considers their tenant’s living is maintained to be at its finest metro lifestyle allowing them to feel more of their interest while being in the busy streets of the metro. And as this pandemic is over, they are looking forward more to reaching out to many more individuals and families with the services provided. Indeed, Vista Residences can not wait afor what they can offer for the next years.
For more information on Vista Residences, email [email protected], follow @VistaResidencesOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, or call the Marketing Office at 0999 886 4262 / 0917 582 5167.
