Omicron can be considered the “predominant” variant of COVID-19 in the National Capital Region (NCR), according to the Department of Health (DOH).
According to the DOH, based on samples collected for genome sequencing in the second week of January, 97 percent of them detected omicron.
Omicron has also been detected in 15 of the 17 areas in NCR.
“These data not only establishes community transmission but also that omicron is the predominant variant in NCR,” said Health Spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire.
According to Vergeire, the non-detection of omicron in 2 places in the region is probably due to low sample submission and does not mean there is no omicron there.
But she said omicron was not only the cause of the spike of COVID-19 cases in the region but also due to high mobility, reduced compliance with health standards, and delays in the detection and isolation of the sick.
For infectious disease specialist Dr. Rontgene Solante, important COVID-19 data will come out in the next few days.
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Omicron predominant COVID variant in NCR: DOH
“The data that will be gathered in the next 4 to 5 days will be very crucial because if it is still increasing, then that will be nearing the peak. But if that’s already downtrending, then most likely we are beyond the peak,” said Solante.
Solante also reminded that being vaccinated or a COVID survivor does not provide 100 percent protection against the deadly virus.
“Reinfection is always possible. there’s no such thing as life long immunity against any infection,” he said.
On January 17, 2022, the Department of Health recorded 37,070 additional cases of COVID-19. Meanwhile, 33,940 were cured, and 23 died.
Of the newly reported cases, 36,001 or 97 percent occurred within the recent 14 days while Metro Manila (13,061 cases), Calabarzon (9,048 cases), and Central Luzon (4,173 cases) were the top regions with cases in the last two weeks, the DOH added.
In total, there are 3,242,374 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines, of which 290,938 are active cases, according to the DOH.
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