PH records 16 more Omicron subvariant cases

Vergeire said the exposure of these persons is currently unknown and travel histories are being verified. (Pixabay photo)

MANILA – The Philippines has detected 16 more cases of Omicron subvariants, the Department of Health (DOH) reported Wednesday.

In a virtual presser, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said six tested positive for the BA.5 subvariant– two from Metro Manila, one each from Cagayan Valley, Western Visayas, and Northern Mindanao, and another one whose address is still being verified.

Meanwhile, the 10 others tested positive for BA.2.12.1.

At least four of them are from Metro Manila, two are from Calabarzon, one each from Cagayan Valley, Bicol, Western Visayas, and one is a returning overseas Filipino.

Vergeire said the exposure of these persons is currently unknown and travel histories are being verified.

Of the new BA.5 cases, two had mild symptoms while the symptoms of the other four and close contacts are still under verification. Five of them are now tagged as recovered, while one is still undergoing home isolation.

As for the additional BA.2.12.1 cases, two also exhibited mild symptoms, three are asymptomatic, while the five remaining are still being verified.

Out of the 10, one is still undergoing treatment while eight have already recovered. The remaining one is likewise being verified, said Vergeire.

She clarified that the increase in Covid-19 cases in Metro Manila and other parts of the country “is not directly related” to the entry of the new subvariants.

“Upang hindi na po tumuloy ang pagtaas at upang manatili tayo sa low risk, patuloy tayong sumunod sa minimum public health standards at magpabakuna (To prevent the cases from further increasing, we should continue to follow the minimum public health standards and get vaccinated),” she said.