The Provincial Health Office now focuses on the possible widespread of the BA.2.12.1 Omricon subvariant of COVID-19 that was detected in National Capital Region and province of Palawan recently.
During a press briefing on Friday, May 13, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that the country detected two cases of the said variant in Metro Manila and 12 cases in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Two cases in Metro Manila are both local, while the cases in Puerto Princesa involve 11 foreigners and one local.
Vergeire said that BA.2.12.1 both have immune escape and increased transmissibility. BA.2.12.1 spreads easily, experts have said. It is believed to be up to 27% more transmissible than BA.2, which is the dominant subvariant of Omicron in the Philippines and the rest of the world.
Currently, there are no studies that suggest that BA.2.12.1 cause more severe disease. It is important to note that this BA.2.12.1 is different from BA.2.12, which was also detected in the Philippines in April. Both are subvariants of Omicron.
This is the reason why the Department of Health urges the public to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
As of now, the province is still far from reaching the herd immunity that leads it remain at Alert Level 2.
Camarines Norte Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Arnel Francisco personally encourages everyone to get their covid jabs for their protection.
Meanwhile, Camarines Norte now has zero cases of COVID-19 and no record of patients in the covid ward at Camarines Norte Provincial Hospital or any hospital in the province.
