Pangasinan logs first case of BA.5 Omicron subvariant
THE Department of Health-Center for Health Development Region 1 (DOH-CHD 1) recorded one case of the new Omicron subvariant (BA.5) in Pangasinan.
According to Dr. Rheuel Bobis, COVID-19 focal spokesperson of the DOH-CHD 1, the lone case of the BA.5 infection in the province is in Bugallon town.
Four other similar cases have been recorded in the Ilocos Region. One is from Piddig, Ilocos Norte, and three from Bauang, La Union.
Bobis said they are all local cases.
The BA.5 is another variant of the Omicron variant that devastated other countries last December 2021, causing mass reinfection.
The BA.5, along with its BA.4 ‘sister’ subvariant, are considered to be the most capable versions of the virus yet at dodging immunity from prior infections and vaccines.
This is the very subvariant wreaking havoc in the United States of America today.
In areas where the BA.4 and BA.5 cases have been dominant, the subvariants have resulted in an increase in cases and hospitalizations, albeit population immunity has been developed since the onslaught of previous waves and variants.
The uptick in the COVID-19 cases in Region 1 could be attributed to these subvariants. As of July 12 monitoring, there were 285 total active cases in the region, resulting in 190,239 total COVID-19 cases.
Bobis also attributed the increase of COVID-19 cases to people’s complacency. People have stopped wearing face masks in public, while others do not wear it properly.
He added that the low coverage of booster shots in the region possibly added to the increase in cases citing data that only 20 to 25% of the total population in the region have been jabbed with booster shots.
To counter it, the CHD is putting up temporary vaccination sites in areas where people converge, i.e., malls, terminals, markets, churches and offices.
The CHD is presently coordinating with the Department of Education in preparation for the full face-to-face classes beginning November 2022. (Ahikam Pasion)
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