By Ma. Teresa Montemayor 

MANILA – A health official on Monday reported that a fourth case of the Omicron (B.1.1.529) coronavirus variant has been detected in the country.

In an online media forum, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the case is a 38-year-old traveler from the United States.

She arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on December 10 via Philippine Airlines flight PR 127 and was quarantined upon arrival.

“On December 13, she had throat itchiness and colds and her specimen was collected on December 14. When results turned positive on December 15, she was then placed in an isolation facility,” Vergeire said.

On December 24, the case was discharged after 10 days in isolation and having no symptoms.

Vergeire added the case remains asymptomatic and is currently under home isolation. She is scheduled for a repeat test on Tuesday.

The Department of Health (DOH) reported the third case of Omicron variant — a 36-year-old returning overseas Filipino (ROF) from Qatar — on December 20.

Meantime, the first two cases of the Omicron variant were detected by the DOH on December 15.

One of the cases is an ROF who arrived from Japan and the other is a Nigerian who came from Oman. (PNA)