THE Department of Health (DOH), the University of the Philippines – Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC), and the University of the Philippines – National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH) report today that of the 211 samples sequenced, 43 BA.5 cases, 20 BA.2.12.1 cases, and seven BA.4 cases were detected in the whole genome sequencing run last June 29 – July 4, 2022.
In total, there were 190 cases testing positive for the Omicron Variant of Concern and all of its sublineages (90.5%), while 21 samples have no lineage assigned.
Of the 190 Omicron VOC cases detected in this run, 185 are local cases and five are Returning Overseas Filipino (ROF) cases. Forty-two of the 43 BA.5 cases, 16 of the 20 BA.2.12.1 cases, and all seven BA.4 cases are local, while the remaining 4 BA.2.12.1 and one BA.5 case are ROFs.
This brings the total number of confirmed Omicron cases to 7,919.
“Total hospital bed utilization nationwide still remains at low risk, and there were no deaths among the cases testing positive for the Omicron sub-variants. Nevertheless, maintaining minimum public health standards and being up-to-date on vaccination should still be practiced by every Filipino to reduce transmission,” said Undersecretary Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire of the Public Health Services Team.
