PH detects more cases of Omicron BA.5, BA.2.12.1

Metro Manila, June 16 ------ More cases of the Omicron subvariants BA.5 and BA.2.12.1 have been detected in the country, the Department of Health (DOH) reported.

DOH spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire announced in a media briefing that six more Filipinos have been infected with BA.5 while 10 more tested positive for BA.2.12.1, based on the latest genome sequencing run results released on June 13. Of the six BA.5 cases, Vergeire said two are from Metro Manila; one each from Cagayan Valley, Western Visayas, and Northern Mindanao; and one with a still unverified address. Five of these individuals are now tagged as recovered, while one is under home isolation. Two are mild cases, while the government has yet to get information on the symptoms manifested by the rest. The DOH added that four are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, while the immunization status of the two others has yet to be determined. Meanwhile, four of the newly detected BA.2.12.1 cases are from Metro Manila; two from Calabarzon; one each from Cagayan Valley, Bicol region, Western Visayas; and one is a returning overseas Filipino.

Vergeire said one case is still active, eight have recovered, and the status of one is being validated. She also noted three are fully vaccinated, while it is not yet clear if the others have gotten their anti-coronavirus shots. So far, the symptoms of only five out of the 10 are certain — two are mild cases, while three are asymptomatic. The travel and exposure histories of all new BA.5 and BA.2.12.1 patients are also being looked into. In total, the DOH said the country has 11 confirmed BA.5 cases and 39 confirmed BA.2.12.1 cases.

Vergeire, however, clarified that the entry of the new subvariants is not seen as directly related to the increase in infections nationwide. “Gusto lang natin iklaro na ng ating genetic sequencing, we cannot test everybody. So, having said that, we cannot really be very certain na itong driver ng ating infections sa ngayon would be the subvariants,” she explained. According to the DOH, the country's daily average of new cases climbed to 270 over the past week, which is higher by 48% from the week before. It said Metro Manila is particularly seeing a sharp rise in infections, while a slight uptick has also been observed in other areas nationwide, except Mindanao.

Source: cnnphilippines.com