The said variant is emerging in several parts of the world, including Asia.
On Thursday, June 19, Secretary of Health Ted Herbosa shared during a press briefing at the Malacañang Palace an update about the new COVID-19 variant.
Called as Nimbus (NB.1.8.1), it has been identified as an Omicron sub-lineage and is reported to have been spreading in countries like China and other countries in Southeast Asia since January.
At present, no case of this latest mutation of the SARS-CoV 2 virus has been reported in the country. But the Department of Health (DOH) is “closely monitoring” the emergence of this new COVID-19 variant.
“Wala naman tayong increase pa rin dito. We are monitoring our COVID cases kasi nga season natin ng influenza-like illnesses, and COVID is one of those influenza-like illnesses. Mino-monitor po ng ating Epidemiology Bureau itong cases na ito,” said Herbosa.
Included in their proactive measures are surveillance activities that include selecting positive COVID-19 samples and ordering a genome sequencing at the RITM (Research Institute for Tropical Medicine) to identify the variant.
“We will be monitoring that now that it’s reported. Iyan ‘yung importance na nagre-report ‘yung ibang countries what their variant is.”
However, the official also said that the DOH also remains vigilant especially with the onset of the flu season.
Moreover, Herbosa assured the public that existing COVID-19 vaccines continue to offer protection against the new variant.
“It seems ‘yung vaccines na ibinigay before are still effective on them. So if you were vaccinated during the previous COVID pandemic, you are still protected,” Sec. Herbosa added.
Regarding the “razor blade throat” symptom linked to the Nimbus variant, the Health department stressed the importance of global cooperation in tracking and reporting new symptoms and developments about the new COVID variant.