THE Department of Health (DOH) has detected 17 additional cases of the Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16, also known as Arcturus, bringing the country's total to 28.
The health bureau said that, based on the latest genome sequencing from May 15 to 19, 2023, the new cases of the Arcturus variant were distributed as follows: seven in Western Visayas, five in Davao Region, two in the National Capital Region (NCR), and one each in Central Visayas, Bicol and Mimaropa.
DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said the country has already experienced local transmission of the Arcturus variant, noting that the new cases no longer have any linkages to previous cases or exposure abroad.
Arcturus, a descendant lineage of XBB resulting from the recombination of two BA.2 descendant lineages, has been reported to be highly transmissible and capable of evading immunity. It has been designated as a variant of interest by the World Health Organization (WHO).
During the latest genome sequencing run, 228 cases of Omicron subvariants were detected. These include 182 cases of XBB, 25 cases of XBB.1.5, 101 cases of XBB.1.9.1, 17 cases of XBB.1.9.2, ten cases of XBB.2.3, 41 cases of BA.2.3.20, one case of XBC, and four cases classified as other Omicron sublineages.
As of May 24, the country had a total of 15,593 Covid-19 cases.
The DOH earlier noted a slight decrease in cases in the country but noted that hospitalization rate remained “manageable.”
The health department is not considering the reimposition of the mandatory wearing of face masks but encouraged the public, especially the elderly, persons with comorbidities and other high-risk individuals such as pregnant women, to put their masks on to avoid infection.
On May 6, the WHO announced the end of global emergency status for Covid-19, which it declared on January 30, 2020. (SunStar Philippines)