The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday announced that 17 more cases of the COVID-19 Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16 or “Arcturus” were detected in the country.

Based on their latest biosurveillance report conducted from May 15 to 17, the DOH identified seven Arcturus cases in Western Visayas, five in Davao Region, two in the National Capital Region, and one each in Bicol Region, Central Visayas, and Mimaropa.

The additional 17 cases brought the total caselod of Arcturus to 28.

The XBB.1.16 is tagged as a “variant of interest” by the World Health Organization (WHO), and a “variant under monitoring” by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).