DOH detects 16 more UK variant Covid-19 cases

MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) reported on Friday the detection of 16 more cases of the B.1.1.7 SARS-Cov-2 (United Kingdom) variant in the country, citing the result of its intensified biosurveillance activities.

In a news release, the DOH, along with the University of the Philippines – Philippine Genome Center and the UP – National Institutes of Health, said 12 of the 16 cases were from Bontoc, Mountain Province, seven of whom are male and five are female.

Three are aged below 18 years old and another three are more than 60 years old.

Contact tracing was immediately initiated to contain the spread of the infection.

An investigation is also underway to identify these cases’ exposure and travel histories.

Meanwhile, two more patients with the B.1.1.7 variant are returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) who arrived on Dec. 29, 2020 from Lebanon, which is on the list of countries with travel restrictions due to the detection of the UK variant.

They were aboard Philippine Airlines flight PR 8661.

The first case is a 64-year-old woman whose indicated local address is Jaro, Iloilo City. She was isolated in San Juan, Metro Manila, and discharged on January 9.

The other patient is a 47-year-old Filipina whose reported local address is Binangonan, Rizal. She was quarantined in New Clark City and discharged from isolation on January 13.

The remaining two B.1.1.7 variant cases were detected in La Trinidad, Benguet, and Calamba City, Laguna. Both have no known contact with any confirmed case or travel history from outside the country.

One has been admitted to a temporary treatment and monitoring facility in Benguet, while the 23-year-old man from Laguna has been discharged after receiving a negative result on January 16.

Of the 16 cases, three have recovered and 13 are active cases, three of whom are asymptomatic and 10 are exhibiting mild symptoms.

“Biosurveillance is in place and we will continue to expand our capacities to detect all Covid variants of public health importance,” the DOH said.

It also called on local government units to ensure strict monitoring and compliance with quarantine protocols in their respective localities.

“The DOH also reiterates that non-adherence and incorrect adherence to minimum public health standards (MPHS) are the drivers of transmission and mutation and therefore strongly urges the public to strictly and properly follow the MPHS in all settings,” it added. (PR)