DOH logs 618 more Omicron infections; 'Stealth' sub-lineage more common in latest run

Signage that reads "No Vaccine No Ride" (L) is seen on the windshield of a passenger jeepney in Quezon City, suburban Manila on January 17, 2022, as the Philippine government banned unvaccinated people from using public transport amid a record surge in coronavirus cases.

AFP / Jam Sta. Rosa

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health reported Thursday 618 additional cases of the hyper-contagious Omicron variant, bringing the total to 1,153.

Out of the 677 samples sequenced by the Philippine Genome Center recently, 91% were found to have the Omicron variant.

According to the DOH, the majority of Omicron cases in the latest batch had the “stealth” sub-lineage of Omicron or BA.2. It was first detected in the Philippines on December 31, 2021.

Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/01/27/2156746/doh-logs-618-more-omicron-infections-stealth-sub-lineage-more-common-latest-run