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.