DOH reports 1,382 new Omicron subvariant cases

The Department of Health (DOH) reported 1,382 new cases of various Omicron COVID-19 subvariants detected from June 26 to 29.

Of these, 1,251 cases were identified as the XBB subvariant, with specific sublineages including XBB.1.5 (139), XBB.1.16 (217), XBB.1.9.1 (366), XBB.1.9.2 (60), and XBB.2.3 (326).

Other detected subvariants include BA.2.3.20 (46 cases), BA.5 (35 cases), XBC (6 cases), BA.2.75 (3 cases, including one CH.1.1 case), and BA.4 (1 case).

The sequencing was conducted by the Baguio General Hospital Medical Center and the University of the Philippines - Philippine Genome Center Main, Visayas, and Mindanao.

All detected XBB subvariants were local cases from all regions except Western Visayas.

BA.2.3.20 cases were found in multiple regions across the Philippines, including the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Central Visayas, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Caraga, and the National Capital Region (NCR).