PH detects additional Omicron subvariant cases

Test tube labelled “COVID-19 Omicron variant test positive” is seen in this illustration picture taken January 15, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has detected more cases of Omicron subvariants BA.5, BA.2.12.1, and BA.4, the Department of Health (DOH) reported on Thursday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the DOH has recorded 140 new Omicron BA.5 cases, 20 BA.2.12.1 cases, and seven BA.4 cases, based on the latest sequencing run conducted from June 29 to July 4.

With the additional cases, there are now 233 BA.5 cases, 70 BA.2.12.1 cases, and 10 BA.4 cases.

The following are the areas where the 140 new BA.5 cases were logged. Of the reported new cases, 129 are now recoveries.

Western Visayas – 99 cases

Metro Manila – 21 cases

Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) – 7 cases

Ilocos – 5 cases

Central Luzon – 1 case

Bicol – 1 case

Central Visayas – 1 case

Eastern Visayas – 1 case

Northern Mindanao – 1 case

Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan) – 1 case

Cordillera Administrative Region – 1 case

The other case was a returning overseas Filipino (ROF).

Meanwhile, 17 of the 20 BA.2.12.1 cases were tagged as recovered. Below are the areas where the cases were reported:

Metro Manila – 5 cases

Western Visayas – 4 cases

Calabarzon – 4 cases

Cordillera Administrative Region – 2 cases

Ilocos – 1 case

Four ROFs were also found positive for BA.2.12.1.

On the other hand, the seven BA.4 cases, which have all recovered, were seen in the following areas:

Bicol – 6 cases

Metro Manila – 1 case

Vergeire urged the public anew to follow health and safety protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

/MUF