Philippines logs 50 new Omicron subvariant BA.5 cases, total now 93

The Philippines has reported 50 additional cases of the more transmissible Omicron subvariant BA.5, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 93, according to the Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said 38 individuals were from Western Visayas, five were from the National Capital Region, and seven were returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs).

Vergeire said one is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, one is unvaccinated, and the vaccination status of the remaining 48 is still being verified.

One developed mild symptoms while 49 others are still being verified, as well as their close contacts.

Similar to previous cases, the Health undersecretary said the exposure of the cases remains unknown as the agency verifies their travel history.

Forty-one have recovered, four are undergoing isolation, while five are being verified.

Meanwhile, Vergeire said the country also recorded 11 new BA.2.12.1 subvariant cases and two more BA.4 subvariant cases.

This brings the total number of BA.2.12.1 subvariant cases to 43.

Of the BA.2.12.1 cases, seven were from Western Visayas and four were ROFs.

Their vaccination status, exposure, and travel history are also being verified.

Ten of the cases have already recovered, while one is undergoing isolation.

One of the new BA.4 cases was from Western Visayas while another was a returning Filipino.

Vergeire said one is fully vaccinated while the other case is still being verified.

She said their exposure is still unknown while their travel history is being verified.

According to Vergeire, there are a total of three BA.4 cases detected in the country. —Joahna Lei Casilao/KBK/VBL, GMA News