The Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Genome Center (PGC) reported on Wednesday that the new COVID-19 variant in the country has not yet been detected.
The DOH and PGC made the announcement amid speculation that the said COVID-19 variant was already present in the Philippines which was first found in the United Kingdom and is believed to be more contagious.
According to the DOH press release, the UK variant was not detected in any of the 305 positive samples submitted to the PGC, based on lineage analysis by whole genome sequencing conducted by the center.
The 305 samples from nine institutions and tested by the PGC consisted of positive samples from November-December 2019 hospital admission and from inbound travelers who tested positive for coronavirus upon arrival at the airport.
The DOH is also said to be in contact at Hong Kong’s International Health Regulations focal point to request other important details about the 30-year-old female resident of Hong Kong who returned from Manila on December 22.
The woman is one of the four new cases of the new variant observed in Hong Kong.
The DOH also called on all local government units and transport regulators to continue implementing the health protocol.
“Strictly following the minimum public health standards (MPHS) is still the best measure to cut transmission of the variant and minimize the opportunities for virus mutation,” DOH said.
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