1,238 new Omicron subvariant cases logged

MANILA, Philippines — Up to 1,238 new cases of Omicron subvariants of COVID have been detected in the country, the Department of Health (DOH) reported yesterday.

The DOH said latest genome sequencing results showed that 1,200 new cases of BA.5, 33 BA.4, three BA.2.75 and two BA.2.12.1 were recorded.

The new BA.5 cases were recorded in all regions, except in Eastern Visayas.

Of the 31 new BA.4 cases, 31 were recorded in Soccsksargen and two in Northern Mindanao.

Two of the BA.2.75 cases were recorded in Central Visayas and one in the Cordillera Administrative Region.

Cagayan Valley and the Cordilleras each recorded one BA.2.12.1 case.

At a press briefing, DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said BA.5 accounts for 41 percent of the Omicron subvariants detected in the country.

The DOH said 162 cases were detected to be other Omicron sublineages, but were not identified.

Vergeire said the DOH no longer reports other sublineages to avoid public confusion.

“It is going to cause more confusion if we give the technical description of all these subvariants,” she said.

Vergeire said naming sublineages are deemed unnecessary as these have similar characteristics as the other subvariants.

“What we are providing the public are the most common subvariants of Omicron we have detected,” she said.

Vergeire reminded the public to continue to protect themselves against COVID, noting that continuous transmission of the virus provides more opportunities for mutation.

“Mutations are part of the life cycle of viruses. Mutation may happen if the conditions are favorable. Continued transmission can drive the mutations of this virus,” she said.