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The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday confirmed the local transmission of Omicron XBB.1.16 or the “Arcturus” variant in Western Visayas after three more cases were detected in the region. “There is local transmission based on our definition,” the DOH said in a statement. Local transmission is defined as cases in the country that have been confined to a certain area and not epidemiologically linked to those with international travel history. The latest biosurveillance data of the DOH showed that three new cases of XBB.1.16 had been reported in Western Visayas alone from April 26 to May 6. This brought the total confirmed cases of the new Omicron sublineage in the region to four. Symptoms linked to XBB.1.16 remained mild, the DOH added, including fever, cough, fatigue, loss of sense of taste and smell, sore throat, headache, body pain and diarrhea. All island groups in the country are currently seeing a rapid increase in COVID-19 infections, with Metro Manila showing a sharp spike in the recent week. According to DOH, a daily average of 1,533 cases was recorded on Wednesday, or a 75-percent surge from the previous week. —Kathleen de Villa