Illustrative image (Photo: AFP) Hanoi (VNA) – ThePhilippine Health Ministry reported on January 15 that the Omicron variant ofSARS-CoV-2 is spreading in the community in the capital city of Manila, amid arecord spike of new COVID-19 cases on third consecutive day.
Speaking at a press teleconference,Philippine Undersecretary of Health Maria Rosario Vergeire warnedthat the number of new infection cases may peak from late January tomid-February.
Also according to the ministry, the country logged record 39,004 new cases on January 15 and 280,813 are under treatment. ThePhilippines now ranks second in Southeast Asia in terms of infections anddeaths, behind Indonesia, with over 3.16 million cases and around 53,000fatalities.
The same day, Malaysian Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said quarantine period for COVID-19 patients willnow vary based on their vaccination status and if they are showing symptoms.
Those who are symptomatic or have not received their second doseof vaccine must undergo a mandatory 10-day quarantine.
Forasymptomatic patients who have got two doses of vaccine but yet a booster shot, the quarantine is seven days, he said, adding thatthis number goes down to five days if the asymptomatic patients have alreadyreceived their booster shot./.
