The Philippines has detected 14 new cases of the “highly transmissible and immune-evasive” Omicron BQ.1 subvariant, according to the Department of Health (DOH) on Friday.
In a press briefing, Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said the 14 new cases of BQ.1 were detected based on the latest genome sequencing of UP-Philippine Genome Center, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, and San Lazaro Hospital from October 28 to November 18.
Vergeire added they still don’t have specific details on the new cases.
"What we know so far from this BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 would be that it is more transmissible and also it is highly immune-evasive compared to the other subvariants of Omicron," she said.
Of the 14 infections, 13 were local cases from the Cordillera Administrative Region, Regions 1, 4A, 7, and National Capital Region (NCR), the DOH said.
The DOH has yet to confirm if the remaining case is a returning overseas Filipino (ROF).
Vergeire reminded the public to comply with the minimum public health protocols and get vaccinated against these COVID-19 variants and subvariants detected.
Six months since assuming the office, President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. has yet to name his Health Secretary.
On Wednesday, OCTA Research Group fellow Dr. Guido David said the weekly COVID-19 positivity rate of Metro Manila rose from 7.4 percent to 9.2 percent.
He warned that Metro Manila might experience another surge of new COVID-19 cases if the positivity rate will continue to rise.
