New COVID variant considered in decision on quarantine status - MMDA official

The new COVID variant, which was recently discovered in the country, is a major factor considered in the decision to determine the quarantine status for local government executives, according to Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) General Manager Jojo Garcia.

In a press conference Tuesday evening, Garcia said health officials were consulted on the matter.

"New variant is mabilis kumalat... mas maganda nag-iingat, gradual pa rin ang opening," he said.

The Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Genome Center (PGC) on announced last week that the new coronavirus variant, B.1.1.7. SARS-CoV-2 variant (UK variant), was detected in the country after samples from a Filipino who arrived from the United Arab Emirates on January 7 yielded positive genome sequencing results.

Last week, health officials  reported that 16 new UK variant cases were detected.

Philippine authorities  has detected the UK variant of the COVID-19 virus in 16 more cases in the country. Twelve of the 16 additional cases are from Bontoc in the Mountain Province, two are OFWs returning from Lebanon, two are from La Trinidad in Benguet and Calamba in Laguna.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday the new English variant of COVID-19 may be associated with a higher level of mortality although he said evidence showed that the vaccines being used in the country are effective against it. -- BAP, GMA News