New COVID-19 cases logged in the country have been detected as the newly detected XBB and XBC subvariants according to DOH.
The Philippines has detected its first cases of the new and more transmissible COVID-19 Omicron subvariants XBB and XBC, the Department of Health announced on Tuesday, October 18.
According to DOH Officer-in-Charge Ma. Rosario Vergeire, 81 cases of the XBB subvariant have been detected in Western Visayas and Davao Region, while 193 cases of the XBC subvariant were also identified.
The DOH shared that 70 of the 81 cases have already recovered, eight are still undergoing isolation, while the status of the three others are still being verified.
Despite the XBB subvariant having an even higher immune evasion ability than BA.5, none of the confirmed cases led to death.
The XBB subvariant has also been proven to be more transmissible, and may evade vaccine immunity, as it os causing the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in Singapore according to Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, calling it a “short and sharp wave” that would likely peak in mid-November.
“Mula po sa Singapore Ministry of Health, wala pa pong sapat na ebidensya ang magpapatunay na nagdudulot ng mas malubhang sakit ang panibagong subvariant na ito,” she assured.
Meanwhile, the country also recorded 193 cases of the XBC variant in 11 regions, namely Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Caraga, Bangsamoro Region, and the National Capital Region (NCR).
A total of 176 of the 193 infected individuals have now recovered, three are still undergoing isolation, five have passed away, while the others are still waiting for further tests, Vergeire said.
Vergeire also explained that the newly discovered XBC subvariant is still a “variant under monitoring and investigation” according to the United Kingdom Health Security Agency.
“Sinasabi na recombinant ng Delta at BA.2 variant ang XBC variant. Katulad ng XBB variant, hindi pa kumpleto ang ebidensya at walang ebidensya pa rin na tumutukoy na mas malubhang sakit ang maidudulot nito,” she added.
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