THE Department of Health on Sunday assured the public that the new COVID-19 variant NB.1.8.1 or Nimbus, has not been detected in the Philippines yet.
DOH Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Albert Domingo clarified that the World Health Organization categorized the Nimbus variant, also called “razor blade,” as low risk.
“Ang outlook ng WHO dito sa NB.1.8.1 ay low risk pa rin. Ibig sabihin ang bilang ng mga tao, bagama’t dumadami ang kanilang sintomas ay mild pa rin. Ang pagkaospital ay hindi tumataas,” Domingo told DZM
He said the occupancy rate of COVID-19 beds in the Philippines has remained lower than 10 percent since the height of the pandemic ended.
The Nimbus variant causes symptoms similar to other mild COVID-19 variants, including common cold, nasal congestion, sore throat and fever lower than 40-degrees Celsius.
Difficulty in breathing and desaturation, which caused many of the COVID-19 deaths in the previous years, are not carried by the new variant, said the DOH spokesperson.
The Philippines recorded 2,760 COVID-19 cases since January 2025, which is 87 percent lower than in 2024.
Domingo attributed this drop to fewer COVID-19 tests and the public’s adherence to health precautions such as washing hands, wearing face masks and social distancing.
