Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 24) – The Department of Health (DOH) on Sunday said it recently detected 18 cases of COVID-19 Omicron subvariant JN.1 and that all of these cases had already recovered.
CNN International reported that the JN.1 subvariant is currently the leading cause of COVID-19 infections in the United States at 44.2% of all of its cases.
The earliest sample in the Philippines was monitored through the DOH’ s genome sequencing conducted on Nov. 16, while the most recent was caught on Dec. 3.
“It is another Omicron subvariant with no evidence of increased severity or unusual clinical presentation. There is also no evidence that it spreads faster,” the DOH said.
“There has been no significant increase in the number or severity of cases overall,” it added.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said it has designated JN.1 as a variant of interest (VOI), and that it needs to be closely observed and studied.
According to the DOH, a VOI is one with “genetic changes that are predicted or known to affect variant characteristics” and one “identified to have a growth advantage over other circulating variants in more than one WHO region.”
Amid the Christmas and New Year celebrations, the DOH urged Filipinos to use multiple layers of protection, including the wearing of facemask, proper ventilation, and vaccination to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses.
Last week, the DOH reported a 50% increase in new COVID-19 cases: from 1,821 cases monitored between Dec. 5 to 11, up to 2,725 recorded between Dec. 12 to 18.
