DOH-6 confirms recovery of 2 Omicron subvariant patients

Two of the three confirmed cases of Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1 in Western Visayas have already recovered while the other one remains in a hospital in Iloilo City, the Department of Health Western Visayas (DOH-6) said in a statement on Tuesday.

All senior citizens and fully vaccinated, two are male local cases and one female returning overseas Filipino (ROF) from the United States of America.

“The DOH Western Visayas Center for Health Development is closely coordinating with local government units (LGUs) following the confirmation of these three cases,” read the statement signed by Director Ma. Sophia Pulmones.

The two local cases, both from Iloilo province, are a 69-year-old due for discharge Tuesday and a 66-year-old who is still recovering.

The 60-year-old ROF who has likewise recovered arrived in the Philippines on April 20, went to Iloilo on April 25, and tested positive on April 27.

All three specimens were sent to the University of the Philippines-Philippine Genome Center Visayas on May 12 and came out positive for the Omicron subvariant as per the result released on May 16.

One of three close contacts of the ROF tested negative while the status of the other two is under verification.

“Local epidemiology and surveillance units of the concerned LGUs have undertaken backtracing to identify all close contacts and to complete the case profile of the confirmed case to identify exposure, travel history, (and) current health and isolation status,” the statement added.

The Health department advised closed contacts with symptoms to isolate and undergo swab tests while those asymptomatic can quarantine for at least five days if fully vaccinated or 14 days if partially vaccinated or unvaccinated.