THE Department of Health (DOH) yesterday said the Omicron XBB subvariant and its sublineages continue to be dominant in the country based on the latest coronavirus disease (COVID-19) samples subjected to genome sequencing.
According to its newest COVID-19 biosurveillance report, the DOH said: “From August 2023 onwards, XBB and its sublineages were the most detected variants.”
The October 9 genome sequencing showed 58 of the 65 samples were classified as XBB, including one XBB.1.5 case, six XBB.1.16 cases, nine XBB.1.9.1 cases, two EG.5 cases, and 36 XBB.2.3 cases.
The DOH said all detected XBB subvariant cases were local cases from Davao Region, Soccsksargen, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
The DOH said there were also four samples that were classified under “other Omicron sublineages.”
The remaining three samples, meanwhile, had no assigned COVID-19 lineages.
In its case bulletin issued on Monday, the DOH said there were 179 daily average cases, or 1,252 total cases nationwide from October 9 to 15.
The number is one percent lower compared to the cases reported from October 2 to 8.
Of the new cases, 20 were critical cases, while 12 deaths were also reported. — Gerard Naval
