DOH records 1,015 new cases of BA.5 omicron subvariant

MANILA, Philippines — An additional 1,015 cases of the BA.5 Omicron subvariant of COVID-19 were recorded in the country, said the Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday.

This brought the total recorded BA.5 cases to 3,012.

According to DOH officer-in-charge Usec. Maria Rosario Vergeire, in the last genome sequencing run, all regions detected the said variant except Zamboanga Peninsula and Northern Mindanao.

Meanwhile, three returning overseas Filipinos tested positive for the BA.5 as well, said Vergeire.

Of the 1,015 additional cases, Vergeire said the majority or 883 have already been tagged as recovered while 84 are still undergoing isolation, and 48 cases are being verified.

“Sa kasalukuyan hindi pa natutukoy ang exposures because we are still verifying their travel history,” Vergeire said in media briefing.

(At the moment, exposure of individuals is still unknown because travel histories are still being verified.)

Meanwhile, 26 additional cases of the BA.4 omicron subvariant were also detected by DOH, bringing the total BA.4 cases to 97, the Health OIC said.

Vergeire said 21 have already been tagged as recoveries, two are still undergoing isolation, while the remaining number is still being verified.

Another 15 cases of the BA.2.12.1 omicron subvariant were also recorded by the agency, said Vergeire, of which 13 have already recovered, four under isolation, and another one is still being verified.

This brought the total recorded BA.2.12.1 cases to 172.

Two cases of BA.2.75 were also recorded, both of which have already recovered.

Health experts have previously warned that these Omicron subvariants are highly transmissible and can evade vaccine protection.

RELATED STORIES:

Low vaccination, booster turnout may lead to over 19,000 daily COVID cases by August

DOH: ‘Wall of immunity’ vs COVID-19 waning, cases may peak by end-July

JMS