The Philippines reported over 1,000 new infections of the Omicron subvariant BA.5 of the coronavirus across almost all regions, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
Among the 1,011 new BA.5 cases, 336 were from Western Visayas; 82 from the National Capital Region (NCR); 79 from Central Luzon; 75 from Calabarzon; 72 from Ilocos Region; 70 from Bicol Region; 67 from Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR); 48 from Soccsksargen; 44 from Mimaropa; 34 from Northern Mindanao; 27 from Caraga; 26 from Central Visayas; 25 from Cagayan Valley; 17 from Davao Region; five from Zamboanga Peninsula; and one from Eastern Visayas.
Moreover, three returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) also tested positive for the BA.5 subvariant, as per the latest genome sequencing run from August 12 to 15, 2022.
Currently, the Philippines has 5,214 BA.5 total cases.
Among the said total number, 907 are now declared as recovered, 53 are still under isolation, while the status of the others are still under verification. There were also two reported fatalities due to BA.5.
— Ronald Espartinez