DOH Speaks on Close Contacts of Omicron Patients in PH
DOH – The Department of Health revealed the results of the COVID-19 tests of the close contacts of the two (2) Omicron patients in the Philippines.
The Omicron variant of COVID-19 which was first recorded in South Africa caused global alarm as it was reported to be a “heavily mutated” variant of the virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) warned countries to boost efforts to prevent the spread of the said variant.
Previous monitorings found that the Omicron may be more transmissible compared to the other variants of COVID-19 but may be milder than the Delta variant. The health authorities advise countries to continue keeping the guards up while studies and observations of the behavior of the said variant of concern are ongoing.
Several nations were quick to implement travel measures on travelers from countries that recorded cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Some nations postponed the supposedly set easing of the measures for the holiday season due to the threat.
One of the countries that recorded cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is the Philippines. The country logged two (2) cases from a returning Filipino from Japan and a Nigerian man.
The Department of Health (DOH) previously assured the public that the two (2) Omicron patients were immediately isolated. Contact tracing was also conducted.
Recently, DOH gave an update on the close contacts of the two (2) Omicron patients in the Philippines. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that all seven (7) close contacts of the Omicron patients tested negative for COVID-19.
Furthermore, based on the report, DOH stressed that all the passengers that boarded the Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Oman Airways flights together with the two (2) passengers who tested positive for the Omicron variant were quarantines upon arrival to the Philippines. They were also tested on the fifth day.
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