In this file photo dated March 3, 2021, a worker sprays disinfectant solution at the National Zoological Park in New Delhi. (MONEY SHARMA/AFP)
NEW DELHI / MANILA / SEOUL – As India records a downward spiral in daily COVID-19 caseload, two new sub-variants of Omicron BF.7 and BQ.1 have been detected in the South Asian country, local media reported Tuesday.
Maharashtra has reported cases from other sub-variants of Omicron — BA.2.3.20 and BQ.1 variant, which was detected for the first time in India on Monday from the sample of a patient in Pune, according to a report.
The BQ.1 is a descendant of BA.5. Sub-variant BF.7 was detected by Gujarat Biotechnology Research Center on Oct 14
The BQ.1 is a descendant of BA.5. Sub-variant BF.7 was detected by Gujarat Biotechnology Research Center on Oct 14.
In the southwestern state of Maharashtra, XBB, another sub-variant of the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus, has also been reported. The sub-variant was earlier detected in southern Kerala.
XBB, a recombinant lineage between two Omicron sublineages, BJ.1 and BA.2.75, is a fast-spreading variant.
Health experts predict a rise in the coming winter season in the state, especially in a festive environment. Maharashtra's health department and experts have asked people not to ignore flu-like symptoms and seek medical advice at the earliest.
Meanwhile, the Kerala state government on Monday said it was intensifying preventive measures in view of the new genetic variations of COVID-19, XBB and XBB1, being reported from other parts of the world.
On Tuesday, India recorded a single-day rise of 1,542 COVID-19 cases, the lowest in six months.
Philippines
The Philippines reported 1,196 new COVID-19 infections on Tuesday, bringing the number of confirmed cases in the Southeast Asian country to 3,986,028.
The Department of Health (DOH) said the number of active cases dropped to 25,039, while 34 more patients died from COVID-19 complications, pushing the country's death toll to 63,581.
Metro Manila, the capital region with over 13 million people, tallied 401 new cases. The DOH said the number of cases in Metro Manila is on a "downward trend."
According to the DOH, the Philippines has detected its first cases of COVID-19 Omicron XBB subvariant and XBC variant. DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said COVID-19 infections are expected to continue as new coronavirus variants emerge.
However, Vergeire said the country's COVID-19 situation is "manageable," noting that nationwide hospital admissions, especially of severe and critical cases, have plateaued. She added that the Philippines remains at low risk and vaccination continues to be effective.
The Philippines reported its highest COVID-19 single-day tally of 39,004 new cases on Jan. 15. The country, with a population of around 110 million, has fully vaccinated 73.4 million people.
Singapore
Singapore reported 11,934 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, bringing the total tally to 2,029,195.
Of the new cases, 731 were detected through PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests and 11,203 through ART (antigen rapid test) tests, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Health.
Among the PCR cases, 716 were local transmissions and 15 were imported cases. Among the ART cases with mild symptoms and assessed to be of low risk, there were 10,837 local transmissions and 366 imported cases.
A total of 661 cases are currently warded in hospitals, with 14 in intensive care units.
Five new deaths from COVID-19 were reported on Tuesday, taking the total death toll to 1,651.
South Korea
South Korea reported 33,248 new COVID-19 cases as of midnight Monday compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number of infections to 25,164,695, the health authorities said Tuesday.
The daily caseload was up from 11,040 in the previous day and higher than 15,466 tallied a week earlier, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
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For the past week, the daily average number of confirmed cases was 24,236.
Among the new cases, 87 were imported from overseas, lifting the total to 68,942.
The number of infected people who were in a serious condition stood at 247, down one from the previous day.
Six more deaths were confirmed, leaving the death toll at 28,856. The total fatality rate was 0.11 percent.