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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider New COVID-19 strain not yet in PH -- DOST

New COVID-19 strain not yet in PH -- DOST

Published Dec 24, 2020 12:59 pm

The new strain of COVID-19 detected in the United Kingdom has not yet reached the Philippines, an official of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said on Thursday. 

(JANSEN ROMERO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)

"Sa ngayon, base sa ating nalalaman wala pa tayong reports na nandito na po yung variant na sinasabi ngayon sa UK na naidentify sa Southeastern part ng England ," said Dr. Jaime Montoya, executive director of the DOST– Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD)  during the Laging Handa public briefing on Thursday. 
 
Montoya assured that local experts are continuously monitoring this new development on COVID-19. 
 
"Sa ngayon, tayo ay minomonitor natin randomly ang mga viruses na nakikita natin sa Pilipinas through the Philippine Genome Center, " he said. 
 
Montoya said that based on studies, the new COVID-19 variant is more transmissible. 
 
“Base sa nirelease na resulta sa UK, mukhang wala po itong epekto sa sakit mismo, kunyari mas maraming komplikasyon o mas nakamamatay, mukhang wala pong effect doon although mas nakakahawa sya ,” he said. 
 
The Philippine government has ordered the temporary suspension of flights from the United Kingdom until December 31, Thursday, as a precautionary measure to stop the entry of the new COVID-19 strain in the country. 
 

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