THE Department of Health (DoH) has detected several variants from 382 out of 1,361 samples of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) that were sequenced between March 28 and April 8.
A health worker takes a sample from a woman outside a hospital in Batasan Road in Quezon City. PHOTO BY RUY MARTINEZ
Of these, 192 patients were infected with the B1351 variant, 170 with B117; and one with the P.1 variant of the virus. The three are considered variants of concern by the World Health Organization (WHO).
B1351 was the variant that was first detected in South Africa; B117 from the United Kingdom; and P.1 from Brazil.
Nineteen others had the so-called P.3 that was first reported in the country but which has not been considered a variant of concern pending results of an ongoing WHO investigation.
Of the B117 cases, eight are returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs); 119 are local while 43 others may either be local or ROF. Two have died and 168 had recovered.
Out of the B1351 cases, 143 are local, one is an ROF, and 48 are still being verified. Of the 192 infected, 187 have recovered, two remain active and three have died.
The lone P.1 patient who remains active is an ROF from Brazil and has an address in the Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos) region.
The 19 P.3 infected patients have since recovered. Two are ROFs, 10 are local, and seven are still being verified.
The DoH has maintained that the practice of minimum health standards and the public’s support for the national vaccination program are keys to mitigate the transmission of Covid-19 and its variants.
