Five new cases of Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1 have been detected in Western Visayas Region, the Department of Health (DOH) announced on Tuesday, May 31.
The health department said three of the five new cases are returning overseas Filipinos from the United States (US).
Meanwhile, the DOH said the other two are local cases.
All the five individuals infected with the said variant are all fully vaccinated against Covid-19, the DOH noted.
“ returning overseas Filipinos coming with a travel history from the US, also residing in the same household,” DOH’s Dr. Beverly Ho said during a press briefing.
Ho noted that the said five individuals have already finished their home isolation and are now “considered asymptomatic and recovered.”
Their seven identified close contacts, she said, have also finished their isolation and are now tagged as “recovered.”
Per Ho, there are currently 22 BA.2.12.1 cases in the country. Of this number, she said 18 are locally acquired, while the other four are returning overseas Filipinos.
The health department noted that the cases of BA.4 and BA2.12.1 in the country are considered mild cases.
“Despite the slow uptick in COVID-19 cases the past few weeks, the country remains at low-risk case classification.”