The Department of Health (DOH) reported 356 new COVID-19 infections on Saturday, Dec. 11.

The new cases pushed the Philippines' cumulative total to 2,836,360, of which 11,373 are active cases or those who are still being treated.

Of the currently ill patients, 4,328 were experiencing mild symptoms, 3,747 were in moderate condition, 1,991 have severe symptoms, 902 have no symptoms, and 405 were in critical condition.

Also, 878 new recoveries and 135 more deaths were confirmed.

The country’s recovery count increased to 2,774,891 while the death toll now reached 50,096.

Genome sequencing: B.1.1.203 coronavirus variant

The DOH said that a traveler from South Africa was found to be carrying another variant of coronavirus based on the recent whole genome sequencing run.

In a public press briefing, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said one traveler was detected to have the B.1.1.203 coronavirus variant. Vergeire said that this variant is not classified yet.

“As of Dec. 9, mayroon po tayong lumabas na resulta ng whole genome sequencing and unang-una gusto nating ipaalam sa ating mga kababayan (we have the results of whole genome sequencing and first of all, we want to inform our citizens that) there was no sample positive for the Omicron variant,” she said.

“Naisama po natin dito iyong isang arrival from South Africa kung saan lumabas po iyong sequencing result na ito po ay isang variant na B.1.1.203 – hindi po siya Omicron, hindi rin po siya iyong mga variants na binabantayan natin dito sa ating bansa. Ito po ay hindi variant of concern or variant of interest (We have included in the said run an arrival from South Africa where the sequencing result came out that this person carries a B.1.1.203 variant - it is not Omicron, nor is it among the variants that we are monitoring here in our country. This is not a variant of concern or a variant of interest),” she added.

To note, the DOH released the result of the latest whole genome sequencing run last Dec. 9—involving 48 positive samples.

Of the 48 samples sequenced, 38 were found to be Delta variant cases while the rest "had non-VOC (variant of concern) lineages."

READ: DOH: No Omicron variant yet in PH

The DOH spokesperson reminded the public anew to strictly comply with the health protocols.

“Kahit ano pang variant ang pumasok, iyon pong ginagawa po nating mga compliance sa safety protocols— pagma-mask, pag-iiwas sa matataong lugar, palagiang paghuhugas ng kamay at pagbabakuna ay effective pa rin po laban sa mga variants na iyan (No matter what other variants are detected, our compliance with safety protocols---wearing of mask, avoiding crowded places, regular hand washing, and vaccination are still effective against those variants),” said Vergeire.