The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday said all Philippine regions remain under low-risk classification for Covid-19.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, however, noted an observed increase in mild cases “while severe and critical cases remain low – even showing a decline in recent days.”
“Although there is an increase in Covid-19 cases, healthcare utilization remains at low risk in most areas, while severe and critical cases remain at a low number among total hospital admissions nationally,” Vergeire said.
Omicron subvariants
The DOH said that based on the latest sequencing results from June 29, 2022 to July 4, 2022, the following were detected: 7 BA.4 cases; one 140 BA.5 cases; and 20 BA.2.12.1 cases.
On July 5, 2022, the DOH released information that there were only 43 BA.5 cases.
” The difference of that number from the current count which is 140 is explained by the reclassification of 97 cases formerly classified as “other sublineages”. The 97 have since been clarified to also be under BA.5, hence their count was added to the 43 to arrive at 140,” the DOH clarified.
The 140 newly sequenced BA.5 cases have the following clinical presentations: 4 are still in isolation; 129 were asymptomatic and have recovered; while seven still have their outcomes being verified.
Their vaccination status is as follows: 16 were fully vaccinated, 3 were unvaccinated, and 121 still have their status being verified.
These 140 newly sequenced BA.5 cases were reported from the following regions: 99 from Region VI; 21 from NCR; 7 from Region IV-A; 5 from Region I; 1 each from Regions III, V, VII, VIII, X, IV-B, and CAR; and 1 Returning Overseas Filipino (ROF).
To date, the grand total of BA.5 cases detected in the Philippines is two hundred 233.
The 20 newly sequenced BA.2.12.1 cases have the following clinical presentations: initially, 9 were found to be with mild symptoms and 11 had to be verified.
“Now, of these 20, 17 seventeen are now tagged as recovered,” the DOH said.
Their vaccination status is as follows:
9 were fully-vaccinated, 1 was unvaccinated, 10 cases still have their status being verified.
These 20 newly sequenced BA.2.12.1 cases were reported from the following regions: 5 from NCR; 4 each from Regions VI and IV-A; 2 from CAR; 1 from Region I; and 4 ROFs. To date, the grand total of BA.2.12.1 cases detected in the Philippines is 70.
All the 7 newly sequenced BA.4 cases were asymptomatic and have already recovered.
Their vaccination status is as follows: 5 were fully vaccinated while 2 were unvaccinated.
These 7 newly sequenced BA.4 cases were reported from the following regions: 6 from Region V, and 1 from NCR.
To date, the DOH said that the grand total of the BA.4 cases detected in the Philippines is 10.
The exposure and travel history of all the newly sequenced BA.5, BA.2.12.1, and BA.4 cases are being verified.
“Let us all remember to continue wearing face masks and encouraging unvaccinated and non-boosted friends and families to get protected against Covid so that we can continue enjoying the ease in restrictions that we have had these past few months,” Vergeire concluded.