The Philippines has yet to detect any case of Omicron XE, the reported new variant of the virus that causes the 2019 Coronavirus Disease, in the country.
Department of Health Sec. Francisco Duque III assured on Monday, April 4, that the Philippine Genome Center has not detected the variant among the specimens sequenced by the research institute
"Wala pang ganoon XE so iyon yung binabantayan natin," Duque said during DZRH's Dos Por Dos.
Duque said that the DOH still waits for further epidemiological and clinical data regarding Omicron XE, reportedly a recombinant of BA.1 and BA. 2 sub-variant of the Omicron variant.
The DOH chief mentioned that reports state that the new variant is 10 percent more transmissible compared to the BA.2 strain, also known as the Stealth Omicron variant, but less severe.
"Batay naman sa mga ulat sa ibang bansa, parang wala naman pinapakita na mas peligroso, mas mabangis ito sa mga nagdaan variants of concern, " Duque explained.
The Omicron XE has reportedly been detected in the United Kingdom, and in Thailand.
