THE Department of Health (DOH) yesterday announced the detection of the Omicron XBB subvariant and XBC variant of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the Philippines.
In a press conference, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said 81 cases of XBB and 193 cases of XBC were detected in the latest genome sequencing results.
“Epidemiology and surveillance units are continuously conducting local surveillance and case investigations,” said Vergeire.
Of the 81 cases of XBB detected, 70 have already recovered, eight are still under isolation, while the outcomes of the three remaining cases are still being verified. No deaths have been reported.
The XBB cases were detected in Western Visayas and Davao Region.
As for the 193 cases of XBC, there were 176 that have recovered, three are still undergoing isolation, five have died, while the status of the remaining nine cases is still being verified.
The cases of XBC were detected in Cagayan Valley, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Caraga, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, National Capital Region, and Cordillera Administrative Region.
Despite the high number of cases of the Omicron XBB subvariant and XBC variant, Vergeire said the DOH is still assessing if there is already a local or community transmission of the said lineages.
“We are still in the process of verifying the profiles of these cases we have detected,” said Vergeire.
According to the DOH, the Omicron XBB subvariant has been the primary cause of the new COVID-19 spikes in Singapore.
It, however, noted how the Singaporean Ministry of Health stated that there is no sufficient evidence that the XBB variant causes a more severe illness.
Currently available evidence for XBB, she added, does not suggest any difference in disease severity and/or clinical manifestations compared to the original Omicron variant.
As for the XBC variant, the DOH said it is still under monitoring and investigation by the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA). It is said to be a recombinant of Delta and BA.2 variants.
Vergeire stressed that other global health agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO) have yet to determine the risk that the variant poses.
18,000 CASES
Vergeire said as much as 18,000 COVID-19 cases per day may be reported nationwide come November 15.
The latest projection on cases does not include yet the latest variants of the COVID-19 being detected in the country, Vergeire said.
The health official said current DOH projections indicate that cases may rise to as low as 2,400 cases to as high as 18,000 by the middle of next month.
“We have new projections where it shows that by November 15, we will still have cases and the low part for this would be 2,400 cases in a day,” said Vergeire.
“On the other hand, the high part, or if minimum public health standards adherence declines further, we can see as much as 18,000 cases per day by November 15,” she added.
Based on the latest COVID-19 case bulletin, the country has an average of 2,188 cases daily for the period of October 10 to 16, which is 7 percent higher than cases reported from October 3 to 9.
The DOH said that most areas in the country are showing incremental increase in COVID cases.
However, Metro Manila is showing a downward trend, while Mindanao is exhibiting signs of plateauing.
Vergeire said the projection has not factored in the current vaccination coverage in the country. “Our hope is that because of high vaccination rates, there will be cases but they won’t be too high,” she said.
POSITIVITY RATES
In a social media post, the independent OCTA Research said 18 out of 20 areas in the country still have “high” to “very high” positivity rates.
Having very high positivity rates are Camarines Sur (46.2%), Tarlac (41.6%), South Cotabato (26.9%), Cavite (22.8%), Rizal (22.1%), Zambales (22%), and Laguna (21%).
Registering high positivity rates are Pampanga (19.5%), Bataan (18.5%), Misamis Oriental (18.4%), Bulacan (16.7%), NCR (15%), Pangasinan (14.4%), Davao del Sur (14.3%), Iloilo (13.6%), La Union (13.2%), Batangas (11.4%), and Benguet (10.2%).
It said Negros Occidental (9.1%) and Cebu (6.5%) are currently with “moderate” positivity rates.
The WHO has set a threshold of 5 percent for positivity rate.
E-ARRIVAL CARDS
As part of the continued easing of COVID-19 protocols in the country, Vergeire yesterday said the Inter-Agency Task Force of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) the shift of the One Health Pass (OHP) to a more convenient e-arrival card.
“As to the One Health Pass, we will be changing it. We now have the e-arrival card. This is one of those agreed upon by the IATF in order to streamline the One Health Pass,” said Vergeire.
She said the transition is in response to the complaints received by the health department regarding the inconvenience caused by the OHP.
“It is asking for too many data, and you need to do it online. Plus, travelers are not allowed to board the plane if they don’t upload their One Health Pass,” said Vergeire citing some of the complaints.
She said details on the e-arrival card are still being finalized but assured that it will be less inconvenient.
“We won’t be asking for too many requirements. And if you aren’t able to upload it, we will have special lanes in the airports for those arriving to be assisted and process their e-arrival cards,” she added.
What is important, the health official said, is that the purpose of the OHP will be retained despite the transition to the e-arrival card.
“The objective of the One Health Pass remains with this transition to the e-arrival card. We will still need two major details: the travel details and the profile of the individual, which includes the vaccination status,” said Vergeire.
Sen. Nancy Binay has earlier called on the government to lift the implementation of the OHP after returning overseas Filipinos, as well as foreign travelers, complained of the tedious pass processing.
