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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DOH reports 19 new cases of UK COVID-19 variant in the PH

DOH reports 19 new cases of UK COVID-19 variant in the PH

Published Feb 12, 2021 09:52 pm

The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday, Feb. 12, reported 19 new cases of the UK COVID-19 variant which brings the total number of cases in the country to 44. 

(JANSEN ROMERO / MANILA BULLETIN)

Issuing a statement, the DOH - along with the University of the Philippines-Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC), and the UP-National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH) - confirmed the detection of additional COVID-19 cases positive for the B.1.1.7 variant also known as the “UK variant.” 

Meanwhile, the DOH, UP-PGC, and UP-NIH further reported that “no other variant of concern was detected” and that “60 samples from Region 7 fitting sequencing criteria were negative for the B.1.1.7 variant.”

DOH said that these 19 additional cases were part of the sixth batch of 718 samples sequenced by the UP-PGC on Monday, Feb. 8.

“The sixth batch of samples were sourced from all regions, except BARMM, and were selected to ensure representation of each region as well as areas where spikes in cases have been reported,” the DOH said.

DOH explained that 3 of the 19 cases have indicated current addresses in Davao Region (Region XI): one 10 year-old male, one 54 year-old female, and one 33 year-old male. “All three cases currently do not have any known link to each other  these cases are currently active with mild symptoms,” it added.

Meanwhile, DOH noted that 2 cases have indicated addresses in Calabarzon (Region IV-A): one is a recovered 20 year-old female who was swabbed last Dec. 22, 2020 and has unknown exposure and the other case is a 76 year-old female with exposure to a positive case last Jan. 21 and is “currently experiencing mild symptoms.”

DOH noted that 8 are Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROF) who tested at different ROF catchment laboratories: 4 are males while 4 are females - all aged between 28 and 53 years old. Meanwhile, 6 of the additional ROF cases are “currently being managed in ROF isolation facilities while two cases have been tagged as recovered.”

The 6 remaining cases, DOH explained, are “currently being verified” if these are local cases or Returning Overseas Filipinos. “Case investigation and contact tracing have been initiated to verify reported information and trace possible sources of infection,” it added.

DOH said it will release additional information once available.

The Health department also ensured that case investigation and contact tracing are immediately initiated by through Centers for Health Development and regional epidemiology and surveillance units (RESU), in close coordination with concerned LGU local health offices, local epidemiology and surveillance units, and law enforcement.

DOH, on the other had, acknowledged the UP-PGC, UP-NIH, RESUs, and laboratories for their “invaluable assistance” in the conduct of biosurveillance as well as the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for their support in locating reported cases and their contacts. 

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