The Philippines has detected its first case of Arcturus or XBB.1.16 Omicron subvariant, the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed on Tuesday, April 25.
According to DOH's latest biosurveillance report, the latest genome sequencing from April 12 to April 17 showed that the first case was detected in Region 6 or Western Visayas.
"The XBB.1.16 is an XBB sublineage that was recently added to the list of variants under monitoring by the WHO and ECDC last March 22 and 23, respectively," it said.
The health department noted that so far, no sufficient evidence suggests that XBB.1.16 has different severity as compared to the Omicron variant.
Meanwhile, the positivity rate in the country jumped from 7.3 percent to 10.6 percent, according to the latest monitoring of the OCTA Research Team.
As of April 25, the country has recorded a total of 4,089,709 COVID-19 cases with 4,255 active cases.
In a press briefing, DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said that the spike in the COVID-19 case is not only attributed to the Holy Week break.
"Maraming factors iyan. Nandiyan 'yung variants na pumasok na alam natin na mas transimissble siya kaysa don sa subvariants na meron. Pangalawa, sympre, 'yung paghahalubilo ng mga tao, not just in Holy week but because it it is the Summer season. Ang mga tao talaga ay nandiyan na ang paglabas at pag i-interact with each other," she noted.
But Vergeire said the public should not panic despite the increase.
"Ito po ay kayang pigilan. Basta po alam natin kung paano natin pro-protesyunan natin ang ating sarili. We are trying to move away from that mindset na everytime taas ang kaso ay tayo ay mag i-impose ng restriction," she added.
