DOH would check the Hong Kong flight manifest after a passenger from the Philippines found to have a new COVID-19 variant.
The Department of Health (DOH) had begun coordinating with Hong Kong officials following the report that a passenger from the Philippines had tested positive for the UK COVID-19 variant.
In a statement, DOH spokesperson Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that they had initiated coordination already with the International Health Regulations (IHR) Focal Point of Hong Kong to request further details.
Vergeire also said that the Department of Health was also in the process of retrieving the flight manifest for the identified Hong Kong-bound flight.
“We will be informing as soon as we get complete information,” Vergeire said.
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Vergeire was referring to the announcement of the Communicable Disease Branch of Hong Kong’s Center for Health Protection head that a passenger from the Philippines — arrived in Hong Kong on board Philippine Airlines flight PR300 last December 22, 2020 — had tested positive for the UK COVID-19 variant.
According to Dr. Chuang Shuk-kwan, the UK COVID-19 variant was originated back in September as the people had been flying around, adding that they anticipated that it would appear in other countries.
“We found them in the France or Philippines returnees and these are anticipated. Clearly, we are implementing stringent measures… For example, quarantine for 21 days at designated hotels,” she said.
According to a matched study by Public Health England, the new COVID-19 variant didn’t appear to cause more severe illness than other variants, but it could spread rapidly.
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