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
MANILA - The Philippine Genome Center has noted an increase in the number of Omicron variant cases nationwide since the start of the year. In a televised public briefing Thursday, PGC Executive Director Cynthia Saloma said most of the local samples sequenced in January carry the Omicron variant, particularly in the National Capital Region (NCR). "Kung may mga Delta man doon, pangilan-ngilan lang (If there are Delta variant cases, just a few only), it's really just essentially Omicron starting in 2022," she said. The same pattern is seen in other parts of the country, she added. The Department of Health on Thursday reported 618 new cases of the Omicron variant 497 local cases and 121 returning overseas Filipinos and 35 more cases of the Delta variant. So far, the total number of confirmed Omicron variant cases is 1,153 while the overall tally of Delta variant cases is now 8,647. Earlier, the World Health Organization (WHO) said the Omicron variant of the coronavirus ma