About 800 new cases of Omicron subvariant BA.5 of the coronavirus have been found across the Philippines, according to the Department of Health on Wednesday.
According to DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire, all regions, except the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, have recorded cases of BA.5 subvariant amounting to 816 in total.
Twelve returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) were found to have subvariants.
Of the 816 infected, 560 were fully vaccinated, while the remaining 256 are yet to be determined.
686 are in good condition, 78 remain isolated, while the condition of 52 is still being ascertained.
Meanwhile, the number of Omicron BA.4 subvariants in the country also increased by 42, according to Vergeire.
Of these cases, 10 came from Region 12, nine from Region 11, seven from Region 6, four from NCR and Region 5, 3 from Region 4A, and one each from CAR and BARMM.
Three ROFs were positive for this subvariant.
The DOH said 36 have recovered, five are still under isolation, and one is still being investigated.
Of the 42 individuals, 31 were vaccinated against COVID-19, while the remaining 11 were still unidentified
The Philippines also recorded 52 new cases of BA 2.12.1 subvariant from Regions 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 4A, CAR, CARAGA, and NCR.
816 Omicron cases detected in the Philippines
The 49 infected are in good condition, while the condition of the remaining three is still being ascertained,
Of the 52 found to have BA 2.12.1 subvariants, 26 were fully vaccinated, five were partially vaccinated, and 21 were still being investigated.
Authorities are already trying to ascertain the travel history, health status, and exposure of those diagnosed with the disease.
The DOH said COVID-19 transmission would remain at low risk in all regions despite the increase in cases.
There are currently 20,511 active cases in the country.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) will launch a booster campaign to intensify the injection of booster doses in the Philippines.
At a press briefing this Wednesday, DOH officer-in-charge Ma. Rosario Vergeire that the campaign will be launched on July 26 in collaboration with local government units.
Such a campaign targets to vaccinate 90% of senior citizens (A2) and give a booster to 50% of their target population. According to the DOH, they will do so in the first 100 days of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s tenure.
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