As the year approaches, the Department of Health (DOH) has issued a warning that the new subvariant of COVID-19, known as JN.1, is now present in the country and is classified as a “variant of interest.”
In the DOH report on Sunday, December 24, there are 18 cases of JN.1 nationwide, with the earliest case detected on November 16 through genomic sequencing and the most recent on December 3.
“There has been no significant increase in the number or severity of cases overall,” stated the DOH, emphasizing that all cases have successfully recovered from their illness.
The agency highlighted that JN.1 is not one of the COVID-19 strains that should be a cause for concern and that there are always new virus strains, but only a few become “of concern.”
“It is another Omicron subvariant with no evidence of increased severity or unusual clinical presentation,” said the DOH in their statement.
Despite the investigation into the new subvariant, the DOH pointed out the importance of continuous monitoring and examination of new cases and virus types to maintain public health. The agency also reminded the need to adhere to implemented health protocols such as wearing masks, hand hygiene, and practicing social distancing.
This report underscores the importance of cooperation from everyone and being cautious about one’s health and the health of others to ensure the community’s safety against the ongoing threat of COVID-19.