Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 12) — Local transmission is likely of the COVID-19 Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16, otherwise known as Arcturus, as total cases rose to four.
In a statement, the Department of Health (DOH) said four XBB.1.16 cases have no links to international cases or no known history of exposure.
\”With that, the DOH reiterates that COVID-19 is here to stay and we must continue to learn and live with the virus. Hence, certain measures and protocols must be in place to help mitigate virus transmission and mutation,\” the department said.
The latest biosurveillance report on April 12 to 19 showed that three more Arcturus cases were recorded in Western Visayas.
Tagged as a variant of interest by the World Health Organization (WHO), the country recorded its first case of XBB.1.16 in April in Iloilo in Western Visayas.
The DOH later reported that the first XBB.1.16 case had no symptoms and already recovered.
The WHO said that XBB.1.16 does not seem to be causing more severe illness despite spreading faster than the other Omicron subvariants.
\”However, the department reminds the public that the symptoms of the said subvariant remains to be mild,\” the DOH said. \”In general, COVID-19 exhibits flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, fatigue, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, headache, body pain, diarrhea, among others.\”
The DOH report also noted that a total of 159 infections are XBB cases. Aside from the three XBB.1.16 cases, there were also 72 cases of XBB.1.9.1; 35 XBB.1.5; and 13 XBB.1.9.2.
There were also 27 cases of the BA.2.3.20 subvariant, one case of the BA.5; 13 cases of other Omicron subvariants; and one case of other COVID-19 lineages.
Nationwide COVID-19 cases continue to increase with a daily average of 1,553 infections tallied as of May 10, a 75% increase from the previous week, the DOH said. Metro Manila showed the steepest rise in cases, while Mindanao had a slow increase.
The health department again reminded the public to follow minimum health protocols and take the COVID-19 vaccine.
