PH detects 5 new Omicron BA.2.12.1 cases

Metro Manila, Philippines, June 1 ------ The Department of Health (DOH) reported five new cases of the Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1 in the country.

All five were detected in the Western Visayas region, said Dr. Beverly Lorraine Ho, director of the Disease Prevention and Control and Health Promotion Bureau, in a media briefing. According to Ho, three are returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) from the United States and are living in the same household. The other two are tagged as local cases and are also residing under the same roof. The DOH said all are fully vaccinated. They also haven't shown any symptoms after completing home isolation and are now considered recovered.

Meanwhile, the department has identified a total of seven close contacts of the five new cases -- two were exposed to the local cases, while five to the ROFs. These seven close contacts have likewise finished isolation and are tagged as recovered. "Makikita niyong hindi nakakadulot ng kritikal at malubha na kondisyon ang panibagong variant na ito dahil rin bakunado ang ating mga pasyente ngayon," Ho said.

To date, the country has confirmed a total of 22 cases of BA.2.12.1. A total of 18 were local cases, including 12 from Puerto Princesa, four from Western Visayas, and two from Metro Manila. The remaining four are ROFs residing in Western Visayas. Meanwhile, the DOH added it has identified 33 more close contacts of the country's first Omicron BA.4 case, a now-recovered Filipino who came home from Qatar earlier this month. The 33 are passengers in the same plane he took going home. The DOH said it is still verifying their vaccination status and testing details. Earlier, the department said the BA.4 case had three close contacts from his household. They are now completing quarantine, but are all fully vaccinated and are asymptomatic.

Source: cnnphilippines.com