Close contacts of Pinay diagnosed with virus variant in HK also test positive for COVID-19

The close contacts of the 30-year-old woman from Cagayan Valley who was found to have a new coronavirus variant in Hong Kong have also tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

According to a “24 Oras” report on Thursday, however, the close contacts did not test positive for the more transmissible coronavirus variant initially discovered in the United Kingdom.

The Department of Health (DOH) said the close contacts from Metro Manila and Cagayan showed a low viral load.

Last week, Hong Kong authorities announced that a traveler from the Philippines tested positive for the UK variant of the coronavirus. 

The DOH later identified the passenger as a domestic helper who was negative for COVID-19 before leaving the Philippines. 

The DOH on Wednesday confirmed that the UK variant has been detected in the country by the Philippine Genome Center.