THE Philippines has reported two Covid-19 Omicron subvariant BA.5 cases involving people in the same household in a province north of the capital, said a Health Department official today, reported Xinhua.

Health undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the cases were detected from the samples of two fully vaccinated and boosted people living in Luzon on May 15.

“Both have unknown exposure as they do not have a travel history,” she told an online media briefing.

She said the cases are considered “mild” as the patients only suffered a cold and coughing. Both have since recovered.

A close contact, who is also a household member, is in isolation after testing positive for Covid-19, she added.

The Philippines also reported cases of Omicron subvariants BA.2.12.1 and BA.4.

Vergeire said the hospitalisation rate in the country remains “at low risk despite a slight increase in case counts”.

The Southeast Asian nation has been reporting fewer than 200 infections a day. It has recorded more than 3.69 million Covid-19 cases and 60,455 deaths.

The Health Department said 69.4 million Filipinos, or 77% of the population, are fully vaccinated as of June 1.

However, 40.9 million people have yet to get their booster, it added. – Bernama, June 3, 2022.