DOH Speaks on Omicron Cases in PH
DOH – The Department of Health confirmed the 3rd case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the Philippines.
Countries now are monitoring the Omicron variant, a “heavily mutated” variant of COVID-19 that was first recorded in South Africa. The experts are currently observing the behavior of the said variant of concern.
Previously, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned nations to boost the measures to prevent the entry and spread of the variant of concern. It may be more transmissible compared to the other variants of the virus previously identified.
Travel bans on some countries that confirmed cases of the Omicron variant are currently up in several nations. At least 17 countries confirmed cases of the variant of concern.
The Philippines is one of those countries that confirmed cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. The first two (2) patients of the said variant in the country are a returning Filipino from Japan and a Nigerian man.
The Department of Health (DOH) previously assured that both patients were immediately isolated and those who have close contact with them were traced and tested for COVID-19.
According to the Health Department, all seven (7) close contacts of the Omicron patient in PH tested negative for COVID-19. Recently, another case of Omicron was detected in the country.
Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, DOH confirmed the 3rd case of Omicron variant in the Philippines. The patient is a returning Filipino from Qatar who has travelled to Egypt.
According to Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, the patient is a 36-year-old man who arrived at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport via Qatar Airways last November 28. He is asymptomatic since his arrival in the country.
The sample of the patient was collected last December 4 and it yielded results on the next day. Last December 19, the patient tested again and his result was negative.
Vergeire said that the patient has completed his isolation in Cebu before he travelled back to Cavite. He underwent home quarantine upon arrival in his hometown.
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