Philippines detects 492 new Omicron cases, total at 535

The Philippines on Wednesday detected 492 additional cases of the more transmissible Omicron coronavirus variant, bringing the number of confirmed cases in the country to 535.

According to the Department of Health (DOH), 332 of the new cases are local and 160 are returning overseas Filipinos.

The DOH said 227 have indicated addresses in the National Capital Region, 76 in Calabarzon, 11 cases in Central Luzon, and five in Central Visayas.

There are also two cases each from the Cagayan Valley, Western Visayas, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, and the Cordillera Administrative Region, and one each from the Ilocos Region, Mimaropa, and the Bangsamoro Region.

Based on the case list, the DOH said three cases are still active, two cases have died, and 20 cases are still being verified.

The latest run sequenced 714 samples.

“With the high transmissibility of the Omicron variant and the increasing number of COVID-19 cases, the DOH urges the public to follow protective health protocols and adhere to minimum public health standards,” the DOH said.

The Health Department reiterated its call for the public to get vaccinated against the illness.

“Getting vaccinated is still our best line of defense when it comes to fighting and preventing severe and critical disease. Regardless of the variant, we must always keep our guards up against the enemy that is COVID-19,” it said.

Delta

Meanwhile, the country also detected 115 more cases of the highly contagious Delta variant, of which 88 are local cases and 27 are returning Filipinos.

This brings the total number of confirmed Delta cases to 8,612.

According to the DOH, two cases are still active, two have died, 107 have been tagged as recovered, while four are still being verified.

Meanwhile, one local case of the Alpha variant has been tagged as recovered. This brought the total to 3,170.

The Philippines on Tuesday logged 28,471 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 3,270,758. —KG, GMA News