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Health of those with India variant could worsen, says infectious disease expert


The health of those identified to have the India variant of the coronavirus in the country should still be monitored because their health could worsen, an infectious disease expert said Sunday.

On Saturday, the Department of Health (DOH) detected 10 more B.1.617.2 variant cases (India) in the latest sequencing of 37 samples.

"It is important that we monitor them (Indian variant carriers.) We should monitor because there are reports already that it can also cause severe disease. So this means it is possible that their condition could be severe and I hope it won't. I hope it only gets mild," Dr. Rontgene Solante, head of San Lazaro Hospital-Adult Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine department, said, partly in Filipino, over Dobol B TV.

Solante, nonetheless, said those with India variant have already recovered since they finished "14 days observation."

The health expert also reiterated that intensified contact tracing is needed to prevent further transmission of the variant to communities.

"The only way to prevent further transmission in the community, especially to know where it is coming from, is to control and be monitored by the local government unit concerned," Solante said in mixed Filipino and English.

Three of the close contacts of an overseas Filipino worker who was infected with the India variant tested positive for COVID-19, the DOH said Saturday. 

Meanwhile, Solante said enforcing less strict general community quarantine (GCQ) in the country amid the Indian variant is not an issue since there are still heightened restrictions imposed.

"I think it is just right because if we look at the provisions, the quarantine status isn't really GCQ because it is still strict," Solante said in Filipino.

"Implementation is critical especially for businesses. They have to protect their businesses, otherwise we will go back to the surge of cases," he added.

President Rodrigo Duterte placed NCR Plus bubble areas (Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, Laguna) under GCQ but with heightened restrictions starting May 15 until the end of the month. 

The Philippines has so far recorded 1,138,187 COVID-19 infections. Of this number, 1,062,427 have recovered, 56,709 are active, while 19,051 died. —KG, GMA News

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