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DOH detects case of omicron BA.4 subvariant in PH from Pinoy traveler

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Gillan Ropero, ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA (UPDATE)- The Philippines has detected omicron BA.4 from a Filipino who traveled from the Middle East last May 4, the Department of Health said Saturday.</p><p>The asymptomatic patient&#x27;s positive test result for the subvariant was from a specimen collected on May 8, according to the DOH.</p><p>The health agency said it has been coordinating with the concerned local governments since confirmation of the case. </p><p>Details were not immediately made available regarding the Pinoy&#x27;s travel history, whether the person was a returning tourist or worker, and where the individual went in quarantine. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/05/05/22/who-2-sub-variants-driving-south-africa-covid-spike">WHO: 2 omicron sub-variants driving South Africa COVID-19 spike</a></li></ul><p>All local governments are strongly advised to seek the unvaccinated and those eligible for boosters, and to make getting inoculated more convenient, the DOH said.</p><p>The public is strongly advised to get vaccinated and boosted as soon as possible and to continue following health protocols, the DOH added.</p><p>The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control has classified BA.4 as a variant of concern (VOC), which means the virus can be more transmissible or &quot;cause worse illness.&quot;</p><p>Based on studies however, it may not cause severe COVID-19 symptoms compared to other omicron subvariants but can potentially overwhelm hospitals again because of its transmissibility. </p><p>&quot;We must be careful because faster transmission will lead to a spike in cases that could overwhelm our hospitals and clinics,&quot; said the health department. </p><p>Research group OCTA this week noted a spike in average daily COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region from May 13 to 19, from 59 cases the week before to 79 average daily cases. </p><p>This is a 17 percent increase, according to the research group. </p><p>The increase in some indicators have not affected the region’s risk level which remains to be low.</p><div><strong>-- With a report from Raphael Bosano, ABS-CBN News</strong></div><div><strong>WATCH</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1894109" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

The asymptomatic patient's positive test result for the subvariant was from a specimen collected on May 8, according to the DOH.

DOH detects case of omicron BA.4 subvariant in PH from Pinoy traveler

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DOH detects case of omicron BA.4 subvariant in PH from Pinoy traveler

Gillan Ropero,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 21, 2022 03:31 PM PHT

|

Updated May 21, 2022 04:10 PM PHT

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COVID19

coronavirus

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Philippines BA.4 variant

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