DOH: COVID-19 variant not seen from samples in latest genome sequencing
MANILA, Philippines — The health department on Saturday said it has not detected the new coronavirus variant first seen in the United Kingdom in the latest batch of samples to undergo sequencing.
Officials in a statement last night said the Philippine Genome Center was able to test only 48 samples, citing a "global shortage" of sequencing reagents.
From the said figure of samples, 23 were from Metro Manila, mostly from Quezon City, 19 from Calabarzon mostly from Laguna, four from the Cordillera Administrative Region while two were samples from returning overseas Filipinos.
"The DOH also reports that seven of these cases are already tagged as recovered, while the rest are active that either asymptomatic or mild cases," the agency added.
Health authorities added that the genome center will also run another sequencing for 48 more samples for the new week, including those from CAR and other targeted areas.
The development keeps the Philippines' count of infected from the variant said to be more infectious at 17, 12 of which are from Bontoc in Mountain Province, less than a month since it reached the country's shores on January 13.
Government has since said that it would not extend the travel restrictions it imposed in 35 countries in a bid to prevent more variant cases, with the ban expiring as the first month of the year comes to a close.
By February 1, foreigners arriving in the country would be required to make reservations in any accredited quarantine hotel or facility for at least a week, per Palace's pronouncement.
"While no new cases have been detected, the DOH reiterates that the minimum public health standards remain the best precautionary measure against COVID-19 infection, regardless of the variant," the department added. — Christian Deiparine
A thread on new variants of SARS-CoV-2 reported in the Philippines.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) rallies all local government units (LGUs) "to be more vigilant and reinforce measures against COVID-19 to impede the projected increase in cases until the end of the year."
DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos says: “Kami po ay nananawagan sa ating LGUs na bantayang mabuti ang mga kaso ng COVID sa kanilang nasasakupan. We are still in a pandemic and we count on our local officials to lead this war, especially in the coming months where alarming numbers of COVID-19 cases are projected.
He calls on LGUs "to fortify their measures against COVID-19, following the DOH’s recent projection of increase in COVID-19 cases in NCR by October, which can even extend to other parts of the country until the end of the year."
The Department of Health announces the detection of 12 new local cases of the Delta variant of COVID-19, bringing the total to 47. Six from Central Luzon, three from Metro Manila, two from Calabarzon and one from Bicol Region.
All Delta cases have been tagged as recovered, but their outcomes are being validated by our regional and local health offices. — Christian Deiparine
The Department of Health says it has confirmed 16 cases of the Delta variant in the Philippines. Of those case, 11 are considered local transmissions.
Another nine UK variant cases of COVID19 were detected in Kalinga prompting the Kalinga Provincial Health Office to reiterate to the public to maintain vigilance and strictly compliance to health protocols.
According to the Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit of the Center for Health Development Cordillera, the newly identified cases were from the five towns, one each from Rizal, Pasil, Tanudan and Lubuagan. Four cases meanwhile were detected in Kalinga's capital, Tabuk City.
Kalinga has logged a total of 19 UK variant cases since it got into the country last January 2021. — The STAR/Artemio Dumlao
The Department of Health announces new cases of the following variants detected in the Philippines:
- 1 B.1.617.2 (Indian) variant,
- 104 B.1.1.7 (UK) variant
- 137 B.1.351 (South Africa) variant,
- 4 P.3 variant
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