DOH DETECTS 18 JN.1 CASES IN PH

THE Department of Health (DOH) has detected 18 cases of the new Covid-19 strain JN.1 in the Philippines.

The Department, in a news release on Sunday, said the new Covid-19 strain was discovered through genomic sequencing.

According to the DOH, the earliest sample collected was from Nov. 16 and the most recent was on Dec. 3.

“There has been no significant increase in the number or severity of cases overall. Furthermore, all the JN.1 cases have recovered,” it said.

The  agency also noted that JN.1 is not one of the new variants and strains that are labeled as “variants of concern.”

It is another Omicron subvariant with no evidence of increased severity or unusual clinical presentation and no evidence that it spreads faster.

The World Health Organization (WHO) sees it as “variant of interest” as it needs to be closely observed and studied by epidemiologists and researchers worldwide.

According to the WHO, large number of JN.1 cases were recorded in France, Singapore, Canada, the United Kingdom and Sweden.

Small number of JN.1 cases were detected in China and the Indian State of Kerala.

The DOH urged everyone to use multiple layers of protection — wearing of face mask, ensuring good airflow and adequate ventilation, covering coughs, and vaccination — especially among high-risk and vulnerable groups.

With all the gatherings this holiday season, the DOH said wearing of face mask will help avoid an increase in influenza-like and other respiratory illnesses.

Meanwhile, the DOH assured Monday that existing vaccines against COVID-19 remain effective against the new subvariant JN.1.

Health Undersecretary Eric Tayag Tayag issued the assurance a day after the DOH reported that it recorded 18 cases of JN.1 in the country.

The JN.1 is a subvariant of the Omicron COVID-19 variant.

Tayag said all the patients hit by the new Covid-19 variant have already recovered.

As of now, the DOH sees no reason to bring back the mandatory wearing of face masks but the health official advised the public to still get vaccinated or boosted against COVID-19, and continue practicing health protocols such as handwashing and social distancing.