DOH: 170 UK, 192 South Africa variant cases detected in latest COVID-19 sequencing

The Department of Health (DOH) reported on Saturday that 170 UK variant cases, 192 South Africa variant cases, 19 Philippine variant cases, and one Brazil variant case were detected in the latest COVID-19 sample sequencing.

Of the 170 UK variant cases, eight cases were returning overseas Filipinos (ROF), 119 were local cases, and 43 were currently being verified if they were local or ROF cases.

Based on the case line list, 2 of these cases have died and 168 have recovered.

Of the 192 South Africa variant cases, one case was a returning overseas Filipino (ROF), 143 were local cases, and 48 were being verified.

Two of these cases were active, three cases had died, and 187 cases had recovered.

The single Brazil variant case was a returning overseas Filipino from Brazil whose current address was in SOCCSKSARGEN.

Of the 19 additional Philippine variant cases, 2 were ROFs, 10 were local cases, and 7 cases were being verified.

All these Philippine variant cases have recovered from COVID-19.

The variant cases were detected in two batches of 25 samples sequenced on March 28, and 1,336 samples sequenced between March 28 to April 8.

With the increasing number of variant cases being detected, the DOH reiterated that strict and consistent adherence to the minimum public health standards and increased support for the vaccination program would significantly mitigate transmission of COVID-19. — DVM, GMA News