THE new XBB and XBC subvariants of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 have been detected in Davao Region, according to the Department of Health (DOH) on October 18.

In a virtual presser, DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said 81 cases of the XBB subvariant have been detected, while 193 cases were detected for the XBC variant.

Of this, one case of the XBB subvariant and 27 cases of the XBC subvariant were from Davao Region.

The rest of the XBB infections were detected in Western Visayas while other XBC cases were detected in the regions of Cagayan Valley, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Cordillera Administrative Region, and National Capital Region.

In Mindanao, the XBC subvariant were also found in Soccsksargen, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Caraga regions.

Davao City Covid-19 Task Force spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser said on Friday, October 21 that the Task Force has not yet received any advisory from the DOH if the detected subvariants were found in Davao City.

“What matters na kasi is, for all we know, naa na gyod ta diri (For all we know, it’s already spreading here). Kana ilang datos na gipakita nila, kana lang ang na-detect or na-test (The data they showed, those are were the ones detected or tested) but the fact na naa na sa Davao Region and inter-travel is very allowed... it’s just a matter of time na makasulod na saatoa (before the new subvariants reach Davao City),” Schlosser said during a radio interview. ICM