DOH confirms local transmission of Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 17) — The Department of Health on Tuesday confirmed the local transmission of Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1.

“Nangangahulugan na ang mga kaso na na-detect natin ay wala na pong kaugnayan sa mga kaso na nagmula sa labas ng bansa,” said Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire in a media briefing.

[Translation: This means that the cases we detected are no longer related to the cases that originated outside the country.]

The DOH also clarified there is no community transmission of the subvariant.

There are currently 17 confirmed cases of BA.2.12.1 in the country after three more infections were detected.

The three new cases were all detected in Western Visayas: two local cases and one returning overseas Filipino (ROF) from the United States.

In all, sixteen of the cases were locally acquired while one is an ROF.

Sixteen of the cases were locally acquired while one is a returning overseas Filipino residing in Western Visayas.

Of the 16 local cases, two are from the National Capital Region, 12 from Puerto Princesa and two from Western Visayas.

Despite the detection of the subvariant, the DOH said no uptick in COVID-19 cases is expected due to the country’s vaccination coverage.

“Hindi pa rin ito magreresulta sa biglaang malawakang pagtaas dahil sa masigasig nating pagbabakuna sa ating populasyon,” said Vergeire.

[Translation: This will not result in a massive increase in cases because we have been energetic with our vaccination.]

To date, 68.6 million people in the country have been fully vaccinated, DOH data show.

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