DOH detects 18 cases of new COVID-19 variant JN.1 in the Philippines
The Department of Health detected 18 cases of JN.1, a new COVID-19 variant, in the country but noted that all of them have already recovered.
The health agency confirmed the news in a press release on Dec. 24, saying that they came out of the samples gathered from the period of Nov. 16 to Dec. 3. It said there has been "no significant increase in the number or severity of cases overall."
According to the DOH, JN.1 is another subvariant of Omicron with no evidence that it spreads faster and of "increased severity or unusual clinical presentation."
The World Health Organization identified it as one "of interest," the DOH said, "as it needs to be closely observed and studied by epidemiologists and researchers worldwide."
The health department urged the public to continue following COVID-19 protocols during the Christmas season—including masking, ensuring good airflow and adequate ventilation, covering coughs, and vaccination—especially for those in high risk and vulnerable groups. "Doing so will help avoid an increase in influenza-like and other respiratory illnesses due to all the gatherings."
"The DOH also assures the public that it is keeping watch over other concerns this holiday season," it added.
Former president Rodrigo Duterte declared a public health emergency in the country in March 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The WHO announced that COVID-19 is no longer a global health emergency in May this year. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, however, noted that it does not mean it's over.
"The worst thing any country could do now is to use this news as a reason to let down its guard, to dismantle the systems it has built, or to send the message to its people that COVID-19 is nothing to worry about," he said, adding that the emergency status could be restored "if the situation changes."
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Proclamation No. 297 in July lifting the COVID-19 state of public health emergency in the country.
The proclamation noted that all emergency use authorization issued by the FDA pursuant to Executive Order No. 121 will stay valid for a year from the date of lifting of the state of public health emergency “for the sole purposes of exhausting the remaining vaccines.”