By ROGER M. BALANZA

New variants of Covid-19 Omicron that have entered the Philippines plus optional use of face mask is a lethal brew that could push up to 18,000 new COVID-19 cases daily in November and December, Department of Health officer-in-charge Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said on Thursday.

Earlier, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was set to issue an order making voluntary the use of face masks indoors.

The Department of Health previously reported the local transmission of the Omicron XBB subvariant and XBC variant. 

Vergeire in ANC Headstart said: As a doctor and based on the scientific projections that have been done by our experts, once we ease the face mask rule, we may have cases towards November and December from 2,500 and up to 18,000 cases.

Vergeire said that the projected increase in COVID-19 cases is not only because of the relaxed mask mandate, but likewise because of XBB and XBC that have entered the country.