Pinoy with UK variant now tests negative for coronavirus —QC LGU

The Quezon City resident who had tested positive for the UK variant of the new coronavirus has yielded a negative result based on his latest swab test, the local government said Friday.

In a statement, the city government said physicians at the quarantine facility where the male patient is staying would assess when he can be discharged from the facility.

However, the patient will still remain under health monitoring for at least two weeks, the local government noted.

Earlier reports indicate that the patient, a resident from Barangay Kamuning, arrived in the Philippines on a flight from the United Arab Emirates last January 7. He went abroad with his girlfriend last December for a business trip.

On Wednesday, the Department of Health said the patient's mother and his girlfriend tested positive for COVID-19. The results of their tests were already sent to the Philippine Genome Center to determine if they were also infected with the new coronavirus variant.

On the other hand, the Quezon City government has already identified 143 individuals who were considered contacts of the patient.

Meanwhile, the city reiterated its warning on residents against discrimination following the detection of the new variant, which is believed to be more transmissible. —LBG, GMA News