SUMMARY
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The Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday, March 20, reported that the country has 114 new cases of COVID-19 variants, mostly detected in Metro Manila.
In a statement, the DOH, the University of the Philippines-Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC), and the UP-National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH) said they detected 46 additional B117 or UK variant cases, 62 more B1351 or South African variant cases, and 6 new cases of the P3 variant found in the Philippines.
These cases were found in the eleventh batch of specimens subjected to Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS), the DOH said in a statement.
“These additional cases were among the 150 samples composed mostly of samples from National Capital Region laboratories. Information of cases with these variants are being investigated and verified,” the DOH said.
The agency said that the 46 new B117 variant cases raised the current total to 223. Of the new cases, 36 are local cases from Metro Manila, 2 are returning overseas Filipinos with indicated addresses in Cagayan Valley and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, while the remaining 8 are being verified.
The DOH said 45 of the new B117 cases are active, while one has recovered.
With 62 more B1351 variant cases detected in the country, the total is now 152. Of the new cases, 43 are local – 41 from Metro Manila and two from Calabarzon – while 19 are still being verified. Sixty of the new cases are active while two have recovered.
The DOH also said that 4 of the new P3 variant cases are local cases while the other 2 are being verified. All 6 are active cases.
The DOH, UP-PGC, and UP-NIH reiterated that the P3 variant found in the Philippines is “still not identified as a variant of concern as current available data are insufficient to conclude whether the variant will have significant public health implications.”
Stay at home, follow health protocols
The DOH also reminded the public to observe minimum health standards and to observe Holy Week at home.
“With the upcoming Holy Week, the DOH encourages everyone to avoid large congregations and practice religious activities at home. Strict adherence to the minimum public health standards in all private and public settings is strongly emphasized to minimize COVID-19 transmission and avoid further mutations,” the DOH said.
Experts studying the coronavirus outbreak in the country earlier said virus epicenter Metro Manila is experiencing a “serious surge” of COVID-19 cases, as the region reported 2,231 COVID-19 cases on March 16 – a 78% increase in new cases compared to a week before.
In January, an expert studying the coronavirus outbreak in the country warned that the B117 variant of COVID-19 might increase the cases in the Philippines by 15-fold.
On Friday, March 19, the Philippines recorded over 7,000 new coronavirus cases, the biggest spike in a single day, raising the total confirmed cases to 648,066. Of the total cases, 73,264 are active – the highest since since August 29, 2020, when 74,611 active cases were reported.
With the continued surge in cases, the government reimposed stricter limitations on certain economic activities and establishments in Metro Manila and other general community quarantine (GCQ) areas for over two weeks, or until April 4. Other local government are doing the same to curb infections. – Rappler.com
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