'No solid evidence' yet that recently detected coronavirus strain more infectious —DOH

The Department of Health (DOH) said Monday that there is no "solid evidence" yet that a strain of the COVID-19 virus recently detected in the Philippines is more transmissible. 

DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told reporters that the department has authorized the Philippine Genome Center (PGC), which confirmed the presence of the strain, to continue its study to gather more information. 

The PGC earlier reported that D614G or the “G” variant — a “globally dominant form" of the virus — were found in a small sample of positive cases from Quezon City. The center said the "mutation can increase the viral rate of transmission."

"Wala pa rin tayong gano'ng solid evidence to say na 'yan talaga ay mangyayari," Vergeire said of the report that the strain has a higher level of infectiousness. 

She also said the cases studied by the PGC might not be a representative sample for the rest of the country because they were focused in Quezon City. 

Despite this, she reminded the public to observe precautionary measures, such as wearing masks and observing physical distancing, regardless of what coronavirus strain may be detected. 

"Whatever strain there may be in the Philippines for SARS CoV-2, we just continue to enforce strictly and properly the minimum health standards," Vergeire said. 

As of Sunday, there were 161,253 COVID-19 cases in the Philippines, including 112,586 recoveries and 2,665 deaths. —KG, GMA News