More than 16,000 new people were found to have been infected with the virus that causes coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Department of Health (DOH) reported on Sunday, Jan. 30.

Based on the DOH’s latest case bulletin, 16,953 more individuals contracted this disease nationwide. This figure pushed the active infections across the country to 202,864 which represent 5.7 percent of the running tally of cases at 3,545,680.

Most of the new cases were detected in Western Visayas, National Capital Region, and Calabarzon, the DOH said.

Of the active cases, 186,550 are experiencing mild symptoms, 11,277 are asymptomatic, 3,176 have moderate symptoms, 1,534 are severe, and 327 are in critical condition.

Meanwhile, 27,638 new survivors and 20 more fatalities were recorded, bringing the recovery count to 3,288,925 and the death toll to 53,891.

Emergence of new variants same with Delta unlikely

In a related development, an infectious disease expert believes that no new coronavirus variants will emerge with the same characteristics as the Delta variant.

Dr. Rontgene Solante of San Lazaro Hospital in Manila said that the Omicron variant is already heavily mutated.

“I don't think that another variant that will be devastating as the Delta will be here soon within the next year kasi talagang itong mutation nitong Omicron is one of the heavily mutated. And I hope it will be the last among heavily mutated variants of concern,” said Solante in an interview with radio DZBB on Sunday.

Despite this, Solante reminded the public to still follow the minimum public health standards and get vaccinated.

“Yung pagsuot ng face mask, pag-observe ng physical distancing, talagang kasama na sa buhay natin (The wearing of a face mask, observing physical distance, are now really part of our lives),” he said.