The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed in its virtual presser that it has recorded 3 cases of Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1 in Western VIsayas as of May 17.
Of the 3 confirmed cases, 2 are local cases, according to DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.
In a separate advisory, DOH 6 said that 1 of the local case is a 69-year-old male from Iloilo Province. He was admitted in one of the hospitals in Iloilo Province on May 5. His RT PCR test was done on May 6. The other local case involved a 66-year-old male also from Iloilo Province. He was admitted in one of the hospitals in Iloilo City on May 7. He isalso fully vaccinated.
The third case was 1 returning overseas worker from the US. The patient is fully vaccinated, based on DOH’s report. The ROF is a 60-year-old female with history of travel from the United States.
She arrived in the country on April 20 and left Manila via Cebu and arrived in Iloilo on April 25. She underwent RT PCR testing on April 27 after experiencing mild symptoms.
At present, there are 17 detected Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1 in the country.
Despite this recent development, highly urbanized cities in Western Visayas will remain under Alert Level 1 up to end of May. But according to DOH, the local government units are now intensifying their 4-Door Strategy to contain the spread of the virus.
