382 more COVID-19 variant cases detected

MANILA, Philippines, April 12 ------ The Department of Health (DOH) reported Saturday night the detection of additional cases of COVID variants among recently sequenced samples. DOH said 170 B117 (UK variant) cases, 192 B.1.351 (South African) variant cases, one P.1 (first detected in Brazil) variant case and 19 P.3 (first detected in the Philippines) variant cases were found from the two batches of 25 samples sequenced on March 28 and 1,336 samples sequenced between March 28 to April 8.

The additional cases brought to 392 the total number of UK variant cases detected nationwide, and the South African variant to 344 cases. The total number of P.3 variant cases has reached 123, and P.1 to two. The P.3 is not considered a variant of concern at this time. Of the additional 170 UK variant cases, DOH said eight cases are returning overseas Filipinos (ROF) while 119 are local cases, with 43 currently being verified if they are local or ROF cases.

Based on the case line list, two patients infected with the UK variant have died, while 168 cases have recovered. DOH said that of the additional 192 South African variant cases, one case is a ROF while 143 are local cases, and 48 are currently being verified if they are local or ROF cases. Two cases of the South African variant are still active while three have died, and 187 cases have recovered.

A returning OFW from Brazil with a current address in Soccsksargen was identified as one active case of the P.1 variant Of the 19 additional P.3 variant cases, DOH said two are ROFs, 10 are local cases and seven are being verified if they are local or ROF cases. All cases have recovered. Amid the growing number of variant cases being detected, the DOH stressed the need for strict and consistent adherence to the minimum public health standards and increased support for the National Vaccination Program to significantly mitigate transmission of COVID-19.

Source: philstar.com