INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has detected 14 cases of the COVID-19 Omicron sub-variant BQ.1, the Department of Health (DOH) said Friday.
The cases were detected from the latest genome sequencing conducted by the Philippine Genome Center and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine from Oct. 28 to Nov. 18, the DOH said.
“What we know so far is that it is more transmissible and highly immune-evasive compared to the other sub-variants of Omicron,” Health officer-in-charge Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a briefing.
According to the DOH, 13 of the BQ.1 cases were local cases from the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon), the Central Visayas, and Metro Manila.
Vergeire reminded the public that prevention measures against COVID-19 remain the same, which is practicing physical distancing, wearing masks, getting vaccinated and hand hygiene.
“It is high time for us to remember that yes we are aware that there are these variants and sub-variants being detected in the country but we should also be aware that whatever variants or sub-variants that may be detected, our protocols for us to get protection and for us to protect our families are all the same,” she said.
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