89 contacts of UK variant cases in Bontoc, La Trinidad positive for COVID-19 —DOH

Eighty-three people in Bontoc, Mountain Province and six in La Trinidad, Benguet, who are close contacts of cases with the UK variant of coronavirus, have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

In a virtual press conference on Monday, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said eight samples from Bontoc and two from La Trinidad will undergo sequencing to detect the possible UK variant.

“To clarify, 410 contacts for Bontoc UK variant cluster had been identified with 83 testing positive for RT-PCR...Doon sa 83, additional eight na mga positive for RT-PCR are for sequencing,” she said.

“From the La Trinidad case, 37 are identified as contacts. Six were positive. And two of the six were sent to sequencing,” she added.

As of Sunday, a total of 447people have been identified as first to third generation contacts of the cases of UK variant in the region, the DOH said. Fifty-six RT-PCR test results of some close contacts are still pending, it added.

Twelve cases of COVID-19 with the UK variant have been detected so far in Bontoc and also one in La Trinidad.

At least 56 results in RT-PCR tests of some close contacts are still pending, according to the DOH.

Earlier, the DOH confirmed a local transmission of new coronavirus variant B.1.1.7 in Bontoc. The B.1.1.7 is the new coronavirus variant initially discovered in the United Kingdom that is said to be more transmissible.

The virus causes COVID-19 which, as of latest count, has killed 10,749 people in the Philippines. Total caseload as of January 31, 2021 was 525,618, according to DOH data. —KBK, GMA News