Press Release | 4 June 2024

The Department of Health (DOH) continues to track COVID-19 case counts and newly designated variants under monitoring. Data as of May 27, 2024 show that all Philippine regions remain to be at low risk for COVID-19.

The DOH remains to be in close coordination with international health authorities. The voluntary use of face masks should be done properly, along with standard precautions like hand washing, avoiding crowds, and choosing good airflow. Similar to the ministries of health of other countries, the DOH still does not see any need for travel restrictions, especially as these may impair the flow of other essential health goods and services.

As of May 27, 2024, only 14% (174/1,235) of dedicated COVID-19 ICU beds were occupied. Only 15% (1,601/10,910) of total COVID-19 beds were occupied. Severe and critical COVID-19 cases admitted in various hospitals total to only 185 or 10% of total admissions, based on hospital reports in the DOH Data Collect application.

The average number of daily reported cases for the week of May 21 to 27, 2024 is 319. This is higher than the previous week’s figure (202), but is still less than half compared to around 500 per day at the start of this year, and also compared to around 1,750 per day in the middle of May 2023.

The average number of daily reported severe, critical, and ICU COVID-19 admissions as of May 27 is much less than its level in the middle of May 2023. Out of the new cases reported for the said week, 22 had severe or critical disease. Twenty (20) deaths were recorded, of which 5 occurred in the recent 2 weeks (May 14 to 27).

The DOH has been operating with the assumption that the flagged Omicron subvariants are already likely here. Recent sequencing data by the University of the Philippines – Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC) confirm this, with the identification of 30 cases of JN.1, 2 cases of JN.18, and 2 cases of KP.2. Their detection (along with the slow increase in the number of new cases and the plateau in number of occupied COVID-19 beds) aligns with the international observation that the new variants under monitoring continue to be clinically mild and manageable.

There are four variants under monitoring (VUM): JN.1.7, JN.1.18, KP.2 and KP.3. All of these are descendants of JN.1. Variants KP.2 and KP.3 are the proper names of what is informally known as “FLiRT” variants. FLiRT is a nickname coined by some researchers to describe amino acid changes in the COVID-19 virus’ spike protein, specifically from phenylalanine (F) to leucine (L) at position 456, and from arginine (R) to threonine (T) at position 346. WHO observed that “there are currently no reported laboratory or epidemiological reports indicating any association between VOIs/VUMs and increased disease severity.”

The DOH avoids using “FLiRT” to refer to the subvariants, as the term is informal and casual. Using it might result in a miscommunication of health risk.

There is still no evidence now that the KP.2 and KP.3 variants are causing severe to critical COVID-19, both locally and internationally. Further assessment continues to determine transmissibility and capacity to evade immune response.

Good respiratory hygiene (covering coughs), washing hands, choosing less crowds, and ensuring good airflow and ventilation are tried and tested ways to prevent ILIs and other acute respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19. It is also best for those who feel ill to stay at home for the meantime, or to properly wear a mask should there be a need to go out.