600 more variant cases recorded

The Department of Health (DoH) on Sunday reported it has detected 642 additional coronavirus disease (Covid-19) variant cases in the Philippines including the UK and South African variety which are more transmissible.

The DoH, in cooperation with the University of the Philippines-Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC) and UP-National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH) said there were an additional 266 new B.1.1.7 or UK variant cases, 351 new B.1.351 or South African variant cases, and 25 P.3 variant cases — which was first found in the Philippines.

However, the DoH said there were no additional cases of P.1 or Brazil variant.

Of the additional 266 B1.1.7 variant cases, 11 cases are from Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROF), 188 are local cases while 67 cases are currently being verified if they are local of ROF cases.

“Based on the case line list, 8 patients have died from Covid-19 while 54 cases remain active. Still, the remaining 204 have already recovered.” DoH said in a statement.

As for the additional 351 B.1.351 variant cases, 15 are ROF while 263 are local cases. There are 73 cases currently being verified whether they are local or ROF cases.

On the B.1351 variant case line list, 54 cases are still active, 4 cases have expired, and 293 cases have recovered.

For the 25 more P.3 variant cases, 2 are ROF, 21 are local cases and 2 more cases are being verified if they are local or ROF cases.

Based on the case line list, 1 case is still active while 24 cases have recovered.

However, the DoH, UP-PGC, and UP-NIH said the P.3 variant is still not yet as a variant of concern since current data is insufficient to determine whether the variant will have significant public health implications.

The Health department reiterated its call for Filipinos to adhere to strict and consistent compliance to minimum public health standards and support the National Vaccination Program and continued implementation of prevention, detection, isolation, treatment and reintegration strategies by local government units along with the imposition of immediate localized interventions (such as granular lockdowns in order to mitigate the continued number of increasing cases and the transmission of Covid-19.

Based on the DoH’s latest Covid-19 case bulletin, the Philippines has recorded 926,056 Covid-19 cases, 203,710 of which are active.

PHOTOGRAPH BY RIO LEONELLE I. DELUVIO FOR THE DAILY TRIBUNE @tribunephl_rio POLICEMEN are still in patrol, roaming around Marikina Public Market to remind the market-goers to follow health and safety protocols as there is still increasing Covid-19 cases in the country.