Theta variant first seen in Philippines removed as 'variant of interest'
MANILA, Philippines — A Philippine Genome Center official on Tuesday reported that the Theta variant of COVID-19 which was first seen in the country has been reclassified and is no longer a "variant of interest."
The World Health Organization first named it as a VOI in March, but now considers it a variant under "alerts for monitoring," according to Dr. Eva Cutiongco-Dela Paz.
"A previously designated VOI or variant of concern," she said in a briefing, "which has conclusively demonstrated to no longer pose a major added risk to global public health compared to other circulating variants can be reclassified."
Genome sequencing had showed there were 166 cases of the Theta variant or the P.3 in the Philippines as of July 4.
Health authorities then said there was one active case, with 163 recoveries and two deaths.
Cutiongco-Dela Paz added that the WHO's move came after a decrease in reported detection of Theta cases across the globe.
Some 269 sequences were uploaded to the GISAID, or the global initiative on sharing all influenza data on July 6, she said.
But 71% or 191 of this were reported in the Philippines, which were mostly from the Central Visayas region.
"There have only been sporadic detections or small clusters of cases that have been reported globally," Cutiongco-Dela Paz said, "[which] justify its classification."
Still, she added that the WHO allows countries to continue designating variants as either of "local interest" or of "local concern."
The Philippines, like other countries, has moved to halt the entry of travelers from select nations to keep away more cases of COVID-19 variants.
Authorities have so far detected 19 cases of the highly transmissible Delta variant, which was first identified in India.
All cases have since recovered, and the PGC official said there remains no local cases of the Delta to date.
"But we still need to remain vigilant and practice minimum public health standards," Cutiongco-Dela Paz added.
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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