The Department of Health (DOH) reported the detection of 56 new cases of Omicron subvariants of the Covid-19 virus.
Of the 56, the DOH said that 28 were tagged as BA.2.3.20, 16 were classified as XBB, two cases each of BQ.1 and XBC, and eight were other omicron sublineages.
The 28 omicron BA.2.3.20 were detected in Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Soccsksargen, and National Capital Region (NCR), the DOH said.
Of the XBB cases, one was a returning overseas Filipino and the other 15 were local cases found in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Western Visayas, Soccsksargen, Caraga, and NCR.
The two additional BQ.1 cases were from Western Visayas and NCR. On the other hand, the two recently detected XBC cases were from Davao Region.
Meanwhile, the DOH also reported 82 new Covid-19 infections on Tuesday, Feb. 21.
At present, a total of 9,211 patients are still battling with Covid-19 nationwide.
The top regions with the highest number of cases in the last 14 days were Metro Manila with 436, followed by Calabarzon with 197, Davao Region with 195, Western Visayas with 102, and Central Visayas with 66.
The country’s caseload since 2020 stood at 4,075,611 with 4,000,361 recoveries and 66,039 fatalities.
As of Feb. 19, the Philippines has already administered 166,423,405 vaccine doses. Of this figure, 71,049,364 were first doses, 73,873,958 complete doses, and 21,500,083 booster doses.