DOH logs 18 cases of COVID-19 subvariant, urges Filipinos to mask up, get vaccinated
The COVID-19 Omicron subvariant JN.1 has already entered the Philippines, the Department of Health said Sunday as it urged Filipinos to observe multiple layers of protection, including masking up, ensuring good airflow and adequate ventilation, and getting vaccinated.
The JN.1 has been classified by the World Health Organization as a “variant of interest” – quickly spreading even as the additional global public health risk it posed was “currently evaluated as low.”
The DOH said it has detected the first 18 cases of JN.1 through genomic sequencing of samples collected from Nov. 16 to Dec. 3.
All of the JN.1 cases have already recovered, the Health department said.
“There has been no significant increase in the number or severity of cases overall,” the DOH said.
“New variants and strains of viruses like SARS-CoV-2 are always there – but only a few become “of concern”. JN.1 is not one of those. It is another Omicron subvariant with no evidence of increased severity or unusual clinical presentation.
There is also no evidence that it spreads faster,” it added.
The DOH said adopting multiple layers of protection, especially among high risk and vulnerable groups, will “help avoid an increase in influenza-like and other respiratory illnesses due to all the gatherings.”
The subvariant JN.1 now makes up 44.2 percent of the COVID-19 cases in the United States, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
CDC data estimates indicated the quickly spreading variant is now causing almost half of infections nationwide, when just days ago it was estimated that JN.1 caused only about 20 percent of infections.
Globally, JN.1 continued to be reported in multiple countries, and its prevalence has been rapidly increasing.
Earlier, the Archdiocese of Manila urged the Catholic faithful to consider wearing face masks while going through the traditional activities during the holiday season.
Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jose Advincula said the faithful are encouraged to wear masks when attending holiday parties and holding Christmas caroling.
“Heeding the recommendations of the Ministry on Health Care of the Archdiocese of Manila, we request our communities to observe the health and safety protocols. Let us practice voluntary wearing of face masks and hand hygiene,” Advincula said.
“Those who are ill must be reminded to stay at home so as not to spread infection,” he added.