DOH: 814 more COVID-19 Omicron subvariant cases detected

A total of 814 additional cases of various Omicron subvariants were detected in the country, based on the data released by the Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday.

DOH’s latest COVID-19 biosurveillance report on the samples sequenced on June 30 to July 7 showed that 785 cases were classified as Omicron XBB subvariant, which were all local cases found in all regions except Eastern Visayas.

These included:

• 254 XBB.2.3 cases;
• 206 XBB.1.16 cases;
• 135 XBB.1.9.1 cases;
• 65 XBB.1.5 cases;
• 35 XBB.1.9.2 cases; and
• 90 other XBB sublineages.

Twenty more cases of BA.2.3.20 were also detected in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4B, 5, 9, 11, 12, and CAR.

There was also one case each of BA.2.75 and XBC, and seven other Omicron sublineages.

The XBB.1.5 and XBB.1.16 are variants of interest identified by the World Health Organization (WHO), while XBB, XBB.1.9.1, XBB.1.9.2, XBB.2.3, and BA.2.75 are variants under monitoring by WHO.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), meanwhile, classified BA.2.75, XBB, and XBB.1.5 as variants of interest, and XBB.16 as a variant under monitoring.

The entire Philippines on Tuesday registered 170 new COVID-19 infections — the lowest daily tally since the 165 cases counted on March 28. —KG, GMA Integrated News