DOH wary of Omicron variant surge
MANILA, Philippines — COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations may peak at higher levels, compared to the Delta and Omicron surges, but the Department of Health (DOH) remained cautious in announcing a local transmission of the new Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1 found in two Filipinos without travel history outside the country.
Based on DOH’s projections, the seven-day moving average may reach as high as 7,702 cases and hospital occupancy may go up to 5,512 nationwide in July this year if the variant enters the country.
During the Delta surge in September last year, the one-week average peaked at 5,926 and admissions rose to 4,413.
Intensive care utilization, meanwhile, is seen to jump by more than 70 percent to 1,124 in July this year from the Omicron peak in January when 652 were admitted on a single day.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the Omicron sublineage BA.2.12.1 detected in 14 individuals in Metro Manila and Palawan was found to “most likely exhibit immune evasion,” citing preliminary studies.
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