Two cases of COVID-19 variant first seen in Philippines found in UK
MANILA, Philippines — Health authorities in the United Kingdom reported that two cases of a new coronavirus variant first reported in the Philippines have been found in England.
In a statement, Public Health England said the new variant called P.3 has been designated a variant under investigation.
“One of the cases is linked with international travel and the other is currently under investigation. All appropriate public health interventions are being undertaken,” PHE said.
Philippine health authorities confirmed Saturday the detection of P.3 in the country. The variant belongs to the B.1.128 lineage, like the variant first identified in Brazil called P.1.
To date, there are 98 cases of P.3 in the country.
The Department of Health said current available data are insufficient to conclude whether the variant will have significant public health implications despite carrying notable mutations such as N501Y and E484K.
The coronavirus variants first identified in the UK (B.1.1.7), South Africa (B.1.351) and Brazil (P1.)—all classified as variants of concerns—have the N501Y mutation, which is associated with increased transmissibility.
Meanwhile, B.1.351 and P.1 carry the E484K mutation, which may help the virus evade some antibodies, possibly affecting vaccine efficacy.
Japan’s National Institute of Infectious Diseases said Saturday it also found a new variant from the B.1.1.28 lineage from a traveller who arrived at Narita Airport from the Philippines last February 25.
With over 631,320 confirmed cases since the start of the pandemic, the Philippines has the second-highest number of infections in Southeast Asia.
The country is dealing with a resurgence in COVID-19 infections, prompting the authorities to expand granular lockdowns, impose curfews and liquor bans, prohibit minors from going out and suspend the entry of foreigners and returning Filipinos who are not OFWs.
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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