Vergeire: DOH collecting samples from Pasay for genome sequencing amid spike in cases

The Department of Health (DOH) is collecting samples for genome sequencing from Pasay after the city reported a spike in cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

“We are collecting again specimens from the city of Pasay para lang makita natin kung kasama sa factors itong variants kung sakali kung bakit mabilis ang pagtaas ng kaso,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a virtual briefing.

The Pasay City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) on Tuesday sought the DOH’s assistance for genome sequencing after it saw increased COVID-19 transmission within households

“Unlike po before ‘pag nagkaroon naman ng positive dati sa bahay, hindi naman po nahahawa lahat ng pamilya. Eh ngayon po ang trend po lahat po sila nahahawa,” CESU officer in charge Mico Llorca said.

Fifty-five out of the 201 barangays in Pasay are under lockdown in a bid to curb COVID-19 transmission.

Vergeire said the DOH has not seen any links between the rise in cases and the Pasay resident who was earlier reported to have tested positive for the more transmissible United Kingdom variant of the coronavirus. 

The DOH will meet with Pasay officials and the Metro Manila Development Authority within the day to give assistance to the city.

Pasay City has logged 7,704 COVID-19 cases with 7,073 recoveries and 196 deaths as of Tuesday afternoon. — RSJ, GMA News