No onward transmission of BA.2.12 in PH yet

MANILA – Health authorities have not detected any “onward transmission” of the Omicron BA.2.12 sub-variant in the country, Philippine Genome Center executive director Dr. Cynthia Saloma said on Friday, April 29, 2022.

“Ang nakita pa lang natin ay ‘yung BA.2.12, ‘yung Finnish lady na ni-release ng DOH ‘yung kanyang background. The individual has already returned to her home country, contact tracing of her fellow passengers in the airplane, as well as in the two universities here. Hindi naman po sila nakapagdetect ng onward transmission,” Saloma said in an interview at the Laging Handa public briefing.

The BA.2.12 sub-variant was first detected from a 52-year-old foreigner who arrived in the country on April 2.

She traveled to Quezon and Baguio City for the conduct of seminars during her stay in the Philippines.

The patient manifested symptoms of Covid-19 on the ninth day from the day of her arrival.

She underwent a seven-day isolation and went back to her country after being tagged as fully recovered.

Saloma said the patient most likely got the variant on her way to the Philippines.

The Department of Health said it is continuously monitoring Covid-19 variants, especially of the Omicron, which may trigger the resurgence of infection.

This is aligned with our longterm assumption of how metropolis is going to evolve and emerge in Mindanao in the next few years, which is also espoused in the Metro Davao Urban Master Plan.

ASEC. ROMEO MONTENEGRO Minda Deputy Executive Director