Last month, it has been confirmed by the Department of Health that the new coronavirus variant that was first detected in the United Kingdom, and which is believed to be more contagious, is now in the Philippines.
“The said patient is a male resident of Quezon City who departed for Dubai on December 27, 2020, for business purposes and arrived in the Philippines last January 7, 2021, via Emirates Flight No. EK 332.”
[ALSO READ: All Flights From UK Cancelled Due to New Coronavirus Strain]
As of writing, reports say that there have been 17 recorded cases of the more infectious B.1.1.7 variant of SARS-CoV-2 in the Philippines that was first detected in the United Kingdom.
Yesterday, DOH also confirms that it is possible for a person to be infected with two different variants of the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Researchers in southern Brazil was said to have discovered patients infected with both variants of the virus at the same time.
“Weeks ago noong nag-uusap po ang [Inter-Agency] Task Force [for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases] on COVID-19 variants, ang ating mga eksperto ay nagsabi na rin na mayroon talagang probability o may posibilidad na magkaroon ng dalawang klaseng variant ang isang tao.” – DOH
TRANSLATION:
Weeks ago, when the IATF discussed the Covid-19 variants, our experts also mentioned that there is in fact a possibility that a person may have two kinds of variants.
The DOH Undersecretary, Maria Rosario Vergeire, clarified that they have not detected any such case yet in the country. Moreover, Vergeire adds that the findings on the co-infection with two variants need further study, including its possible implications.
The total number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines as of today is 531,708. Of which, 32,775 (6.2%) are active, 487,927 (91.8%) recovered, and 10,997 (2.07%) have unfortunately died.
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