No WHO classification yet on C.1.2 coronavirus variant —DOH

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Wednesday said the C.1.2 coronavirus variant has yet to be considered as a variant of interest or of concern by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Interviewed on Unang Balita, Vergiere said the study on the variant, which was first detected in South Africa, is still ongoing.

“Nagsumite pa lang sila sa WHO kung makaka-classify na ito ay a variant of interest or variant of concern,” she said.

(South African authorities have just submitted samples to WHO asking if it can be classified as a variant of interest or of concern).

Based on the initial study, the variant has increased transmissibility and can affect the immunity from COVID-19 vaccines.

The variant was first detected in May and has now spread to most South African provinces and to seven other countries in Africa, Europe, Asia and Oceania, based on research that is yet to be peer-reviewed.

A Reuters report quoted infectious disease specialist and one of the authors of the research on C.1.2 Richard Lessells as saying that the variant's emergence shows "this pandemic is far from over and that this virus is still exploring ways to potentially get better at infecting us." —KBK, GMA News