MANILA - A total of 618 new cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus have been detected from the 677 samples in the latest batch of whole-genome sequencing, the Department of Health (DOH) reported Thursday. In a joint statement with the University of the Philippines - Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC) and the University of the Philippines - National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH), the DOH said the Omicron cases composed of 497 local cases and 121 returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs). For the Omicron variant, the addresses of the cases were in the National Capital Region with 238 cases, Calabarzon, 71; Ilocos Region and Western Visayas with 30 each; Eastern Visayas, 28; Central Luzon, 27; Central Visayas, 20; Cagayan Valley, 19; Cordillera Administrative Region, 13; Davao Region, 10; Soccsksargen, 6; two cases each from Bicol Region and Mimaropa and one case from Northern Mindanao. The DOH said 13 cases are still active, two cases have died, and 560 cases have been tagged as recove