The number of confirmed cases of the B.1.1.7 variant of the COVID-19 virus (United Kingdom variant) in the country has increased to 17, the Department of Health (DOH) announced on Friday night.
“Following strengthened biosurveillance activities amid the detection of the first B.1.1.7 variant in the country last January 13, the Department of Health (DOH), UP-Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC) and the UP-National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH) today confirmed the detection of the B.1.1.7 variant in 16 additional COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 17,” the DOH said in a statement.
“Of the additional 16 cases with B.1.1.7 variant detected, three have already recovered, 13 are active cases—three of which are asymptomatic and 10 are exhibiting mild symptoms,” it added.
The DOH said that 12 out of the 16 new cases were detected in Bontoc, Mountain province.
“Of these 12 cases, seven are male and five are female. Three are aged below 18 years old and another three are above 60. Contact tracing was immediately initiated to contain the spread of the infection. Investigation is also underway to identify these cases’ exposure and travel histories,” it said.
The two other patients are returning Filipinos from Lebanon who arrived in the Philippines last December 29 onboard Philippine Airlines flight PR 8661.
“The first case is a 64-year old female whose indicated local address is Jaro, Iloilo City. The patient was isolated in San Juan, Metro Manila and discharged on January 9. The other is a 47-year old Filipina whose reported local address is Binangonan, Rizal and was quarantined in New Clark City and discharged from isolation on January 13,” the DOH said.
The remaining two others were detected in La Trinidad, Benguet and Calamba City, Laguna.
“Both have no known contact to any confirmed case or travel history from outside the country. One is currently admitted in a Benguet Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facility, while the 23-year-old male in Laguna has been discharged after receiving a negative result on January 16,” the DOH said.
The country’s first case was a 29-year-old Filipino who left for Dubai last December 27, 2020 and came back to the Philippines on January 7. The patient is a resident of Quezon City. The DOH said that he already tested negative for COVID-19.
“The DOH also reiterates that non-adherence and incorrect adherence to minimum public health standards (MPHS) are the drivers of transmission and mutation and therefore strongly urges the public to strictly and properly follow the minimum public health standards in all settings,” it added.
Too early
Dr. Celia Carlos, Director of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) said it is too early to say if there is already a community transmission of the more contagious variant of the coronavirus in the country.
"Considering that investigation is ongoing, it may be premature for us now to determine whether there is ongoing community transmission. We need to wait for the results of the investigation," said Carlos during a press briefing.
According to Carlos, the World Health Organization (WHO) has "three definitions" to establish a community transmission.
"First, large number of cases which are not linkable through transmission chains. Number two, large number of cases from sentinel sites if there is existing surveillance, and Number three multiple unrelated-clusters in several areas of the country," she said. (with a report from Joseph Pedrajas)