INALOK kagabi ni Pangulong Duterte ang isang miyembro ng OCTA Research at molecular biologist at paring si Fr. Nicano Austriaco na maging susunod na Secretary ng Department of Health (DOH).
“So, we would be blessed if you decide to accept the portfolio of Secretary of Health, short stint. I am sure Secretary Duque would only be too happy to give way,” sabi ni Duterte sa kanyang Talk to the People.
Sa kanyang presentasyon, sinabi ni Austriaco na hindi kailangang mag-panic ang mga Pinoy sa kabila ng banta ng bagong Omicron variant.
“And so this is not the time to panic. It is the time to be careful. We have to prepare. But we also have to celebrate especially since this is Christmas. We must prepare the hospital infrastructure and increase healthcare workers staffing capacity po. Because in the Alpha and Delta surges it was clear that we had nursing shortages, especially in the NCR,” sabi ni Austriaco sa kanyang presentasyon.
Idinagdag ni Austriaco na kailangan lamang na ituloy ang pagbabakuna para matiyak ang immunity ng mga Pinoy.
“We have to continue to vaccinate and to boost our kababayans to build and maintain population immunity. This is really important po because the experience of Israel and other countries that vaccinated early showed that it is important to boost at the appropriate time to maintain population immunity,” ayon pa kay Austriaco.
