DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, May 24 (PIA) -- The Provincial Health Office has reported that the province has recorded its first case of the highly contagious Omicron BA.4 subvariant.

In a statement, the Department of Health described the patient as Filipino male who flew from the Middle East on May 4.

He took the test on May 8 and was asymptomatic.

In a virtual press conference, Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force Against COVID-19 Ground Commander Dr. Liland Estacion said the infected person is from Dauin town but has recovered before he arrived in the province.

Estacion also reported that as of May 23, the total COVID-19 cases of the province is 23,549, with 22,803 recoveries, five active cases, and 741 deaths.

Of the three new positive cases, two were unvaccinated and another was vaccinated as of May 23.

Meanwhile, Dumaguete City Health Office (CHO) is now administering the second booster dose against COVID-19 for frontline healthcare workers, senior citizens (60 years old and above) and immunocompromised populations.

City Health Officer Dr. Maria Sarah Talla said eligible residents can go to the City Health Laboratory to get their second booster dose from Monday to Friday (except holidays) 8:00 AM-5:00 PM and bring with them their vaccination cards.

Immunocompromised individuals are specifically defined as individuals with/are: immunodeficiency state, HIV, active cancer or malignancy, transplant recipients, undergoing steroid treatment, patient with prognosis/bedridden patients and other conditions of immunodeficiency as certified by physician.

Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo urged the elderly and healthcare workers to get their second booster shot as the CHO has an available supply of Moderna, Sinovac, and Pfizer vaccines to further protect the community from COVID-19 and prevent deaths. (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental)