Filtered By: Topstories
News

Philippine Genome Center: 9.9% of over 4k samples account for new coronavirus variants


At least 9.9% of  4,000 samples processed by the Philippine Genome Center (PGC) account for new variants of coronavirus.

Dr. Cynthia Salome, Executive Director of the PGC, said this is based on 4,751 samples that were subjected to genome sequencing by the PGC since January.

“4,050 have been found to be variants of concern. Two hundred thirty-seven were of UK variant, 163 of South Africa variant. One hundred four is a variant discovered in Central Visayas, one is a variant from Brazil. The UK variant has a higher fatality in elderly, while the South African variant tend to lower the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines,” Salome said during the Laging Handa briefing.

“This means 9.9 percent accounted for variants of concern in the Philippines since we started genomic bio surveillance in January,” Salome added.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque earlier attributed the surge of COVID-19 cases in the country to the new variants of coronavirus which are more transmissible.

Salome noted that while the new variants are more transmissible by 50%, the surge in COVID-19 cases cannot be solely pinned on the emergence of new variants.

“Yes, they are more infectious and we have seen transmission in households, but the surge of COVID-19 cases is really a combination of many factors,” Salome pointed out.

“Maybe because of the long sacrifices we have done [due to quarantine restrictions],  there was a drop in compliance in minimum public health standards, the belief that the COVID-19 vaccines are coming and these variants which came in which are more transmissible,” Salome added.

The Philippines has 143,726 active COVID-19 cases so far.

Of this number, 62,096 were recorded in the National Capital Region in the last 14 days. — RSJ, GMA News

LOADING CONTENT