Negros Occidental has no plan to close its borders with Iloilo after three highly transmissible Omicron sub-variant BA.2.12.1 cases were detected there, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Wednesday, May 18.
“We’ll have to observe how it goes,” he said, pointing out that the sub-variant has been detected not only in Western Visayas but in other parts of the country.
COVID-19 admissions in hospitals are very low so most likely these are very mild cases, he said.
“In the meantime, we don’t intend to close our borders, I think it’s too early for that. Let’s just do our share and protect ourselves,” Lacson said.
Right now there is really no reason for large crowds to converge because the campaign period is over, he said.
He stressed the need to continue to wear face masks.
Two Omicron sub-variant BA.2.12.1 cases in Iloilo province were locally transmitted, while the third case involved a returning overseas Filipino, the Department of Health reported Tuesday.*