The Department of Health (DOH) "strongly recommends" the continuous wearing of face masks as protection against the newly detected EG.5 omicron subvariant and other infectious diseases, even after the state of the public health emergency has already been lifted.

"The Department of Health (DOH) strongly recommends the public to continue adhering to our layers of protection such as wearing face masks, isolating when sick, and ensuring good airflow," the department advised on Tuesday, Aug. 1.

"More importantly, the DOH continuously encourages the public to get vaccinated and boosted to further strengthen our wall of immunity and to remain protected against COVID-19," the health department added.

First 10 cases

On July 27, the country recorded the first 10 cases of the EG.5 omicron subvariant based on the genome sequencing results conducted from July 14 to 25.

READ: PH records first 10 cases of EG.5 omicron subvariant

The EG.5 variant is an XBB.1.9.2 sublineage that was added to the list of variants under monitoring by the World Health Organization on July 19.

"The variant was initially flagged due to its increasing global prevalence and has been detected in 49 countries or jurisdictions across six continents, according to sequence submissions in GISAID (Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data)," said DOH.

However, available data do not show any differences in terms of severity or clinical manifestation compared to the original omicron variant.

Researchers are also still characterizing EG.5's transmissibility, severity, and immune evasion.