Mother, girlfriend of Philippines' first UK variant case test negative for B.1.1.7

The mother and girlfriend of the Filipino from Dubai, who tested positive for the UK variant of COVID-19, have tested negative for the new variant.

According to a Facebook post by the Quezon City local government on Friday night, doctors continue to monitor the condition of the women, who earlier tested positive for COVID-19.

"Patuloy na imomonitor ng mga doktor ang kanilang kalagayan, at tatapusin na lamang ang kanilang quarantine sa isolation facility," the post read.

The country's first case of the UK variant of the new coronavirus already has yielded a negative result based on his latest swab test, the local government said earlier.

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.

"Dadaan pa siya sa final medical assessment ng mga doktor sa quarantine facility kung saan siya nanunuluyan, bago siya payagang muling makasama ang kanyang pamilya at makabalik sa kanilang komunidad," the post said.

The first case of the UK variant, 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.

The B.1.1.7 variant was first detected in the United Kingdom. It has been found to be more infectious but does not appear to make the COVID-19 more severe. -NB/BAP, GMA News