DOH, WHO to investigate coronavirus variant first detected in Philippines

The Department of Health (DOH) and World Health Organization (WHO) will team up to investigate the P.3 coronavirus variant that was first detected in the Philippines, a health official said Wednesday.

DOH Epidemiology Bureau director Dr. Alethea De Guzman said the DOH and WHO are scheduled to meet in the coming weeks to share information on the P.3 variant.

The variant has reached England

The DOH said it regularly coordinates with its counterparts in other countries to share information on such cases.

“There is an exchange of information between countries… that way we can track [cases],” she said in a mix of English and Filipino during a briefing.

The Philippines has so far recorded 98 cases with the P.3 variant, 177 with the UK variant, 90 with the South Africa variant, and one Brazil variant case. 

The country is battling a fresh surge in COVID-19 cases that health authorities have attributed to the new variants, increased mobility, and relaxed adherence to health protocols. 

The Philippines has 61,733 active cases as of Wednesday afternoon. — RSJ, GMA News