DOH: 1 seafarer with India variant intubated, 3 on oxygen support but improving

Four crew members of the MV Athens Bridge who tested positive for the B.1.617 coronavirus variant first detected in India are still admitted to a hospital in Metro Manila, the Department of Health (DOH) said Monday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the crew members will undergo a repeat COVID-19 test on Monday, the 21st day since they began manifesting COVID-19 symptoms.

“Ang isa po sa kanila ngayon ay naka-intubate pero sabi po ng ospital, binigyan tayo ng update, na nasa maayos na kalagayan at mukhang nag-i-improve. Tatlo po sa kanila are under oxygen support and they are also doing well,” she said in a briefing.

(One of them is intubated but the hospital told us that the patient is in good condition and seems to be improving. Three others are under oxygen support and they are also doing well.)

The DOH earlier reported that a total of nine crew members of the same vessel were found to have the B.1.617 variant. The other five cases are in an isolation facility.

The MV Athens Bridge was allowed to dock by the Philippine government after two Filipino crew members deteriorated to critical condition.

Vergeire assured the public that the seafarers were immediately isolated and tested for COVID-19 upon docking.

The Philippines now has 12 cases of the B.1.617 variant.

The government has imposed a travel ban on travelers from Oman and the United Arab Emirates, among other countries where the new variant has been detected, until May 31.—AOL, GMA News