By Gabriela Baron
No cases of the highly contagious Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 have been reported in the country, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
The DOH assured the public that the government continues to implement COVID-19 surveillance and monitoring activities.
“[DOH] is confident in detecting potential variants that may enter the country,” it added.
Based on the data from the United States’ (US) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Omicron subvariant caused at least 40% of the current COVID-19 cases in the US.
XBB.1.5 is a sublineage of XBB subvariant, a recombinant of the Omicron BA.2.10.1 and BA.2.75 subvariants, according to the World Health Organization.
XBB.1.5 was first detected in New York and Connecticut late October and it is believed to be “highly immune evasive.”
However, DOH reiterated that COVID-19 variants “will continue to emerge and re-emerge.”
“What’s important is we continue to employ our layers of protection such as sanitation, masking, distancing, vaccination, and boosters, as well as good ventilation to keep cases manageable and prevent virus transmission,” DOH said. -ag
