Baguio’s identified Omicron cases now 45

Detected omicron variant cases in Baguio City ballooned to 45 after the Philippine Genome Center reported 36 additional cases traced to the city on Feb. 2.

With the latest biosurveillance report, the total of variants of concern (VOC) identified afflictions in the city to 436 broken down as follows: 117 alpha; 52 beta; 222 delta and 45 omicron.

All of the patients had recovered.  Most were part of household, medical and business process outsourcing (BPO) clusters.

Their specimen samples were taken between Jan. 5-15.

The Department of Health said omicron is now the dominant variant in the country, affirming local authorities’ earlier pronouncements on the variant causing rapid community transmission driving the latest surge in the city.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong said the wave had let up after peaking last Jan. 3.

“Omicron is undoubtedly the dominant variant but we still have Delta based on the PGC data releases in December.  This probably accounts for some of the fatalities this month,” he said. – Aileen P. Refuerzo