What you need to know about the latest COVID-19 Omicron variant BA 5

Since July 2022, the Philippines has recorded an increase in COVID-19 cases. On August 4, 2022, the Department of Health announced 4,439 new cases of COVID-19 with a positivity rate of 18.4%--far beyond the World Health Organization threshold of 5%. While cases have increased anew, it is worth noting that the country’s hospital utilization rate has remained below 50%. This means most cases only manifest mild symptoms which do not require hospitalization.

The current spike is due mainly to the different sub-variants of the COVID-19 Omicron variant most specifically BA 5 and BA 2.75. The Omicron variant BA 5 is now the dominant variant in Asia and the US.

With the Omicron variant being detected last year, the case count has since increased at a rapid pace globally. Furthermore, data from the Philippine Genomic Center has shown that a local transmission of more than 65 sub-variants of Omicron occurred.

Omicron facts

Omicron was tagged a variant of concern by the World Health Organization and first detected in the Philippines in December 2021. It was the main driver for the surge during the first two months of 2022. It was shown to infect and reside in the nose and throat area, compared to the Delta variant with its propensity to infect the lung area. Reports from Africa and Europe on Omicron show that those infected experience mild flu-like symptoms with severe fatigue and sore throat but no loss of sense of smell or taste.

According to initial studies done in Europe and the United States, Omicron is more transmissible compared to Delta and previous variants like Alpha and Beta. The latest Omicron sub-variant, BA 5, is now seen to be even more transmissible compared to the ones that came before. In terms of severity, it has shown less likelihood of hospitalization although it is important to note that disease severity can depend on age, presence of pre-existing conditions or comorbidities such as hypertension and diabetes, history of vaccination and prior infection.

So, what can we do to protect ourselves from Omicron and its different sub-variants? The best way is through prevention by getting vaccinated, continuing to wear well-fitting masks properly, keeping our hands clean, avoiding poorly ventilated areas, and refraining from touching your mouth, eyes, and nose.

Get additional protection

Having health insurance is among the important things to consider given today’s health challenges. As a leading global insurance brand and reliable health solutions provider, AXA Philippines offers Health Care Access.

A comprehensive and affordable health care plan, Health Care Access provides coverage for individuals ages 15 days old up to 75 years old. It includes inpatient, outpatient, emergency, and preventive care with 24/7 teleconsultation. It even comes with a Longevity Health Fund that can be used for future medical needs from age 76 onwards. More than just health coverage, it also has life and accident insurance. Moreover, benefits of a Health Care Access plan can be extended to the principal policyholder’s family members, too.

To know more about AXA Health Care Access, visit https://www.axa.com.ph/health-protection/health-care-access. 

AXA’s range of health and protection products are here to support your wellbeing so you are empowered to keep protecting what matters most. Find out more by visiting AXA’s health products page by clicking here or reaching out to an AXA financial partner.

Reference/s:

DOH COVID Tracker; https://doh.gov.ph/covid19tracker

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/omicron-variant.html

BMJ 2021; 375 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n3144

https://www.who.int/news/item/26-11-2021-classification-of-omicron-(b.1.1.529)-sars-cov-2-variant-of-concern