Palace orders sequencing of COVID-19 positive international arrivals since Nov. 1

In light of the discovery of the Omicron coronavirus variant, Malacañang said on Friday that the National Task Force Against COVID-19 Task Group on the Management of Returning Overseas Filipinos was ordered to submit positive COVID-19 results from November 1 onwards for immediate genome sequencing by the Philippine Genome Center (PGC).

Acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said this is provided under Inter-Agency Task Force Resolution 152 which also tasks the Department of Interior and Local Government to enjoin local government units to initiate active case finding and immediately flag clusters or increasing cases, as well as immediately submit eligible samples for sequencing.

"This is to further strengthen active case finding and healthcare system capacity," Nograles said.

Be that as it may, Dr. Alethea de Guzman of the Department of Health on Friday reminded the public that there was no proof yet that the Omicron variant causes more severe COVID-19, death due to COVID-19, or would put children at higher risk of being infected with COVID-19.

"The Omicron variant is still being studied," de Guzman said.

The Omicron variant was first detected by South African authorities and was reported to be more transmissible.

At least 35 countries have been confirmed to have cases of the Omicron variant so far, including South Africa, Belgium, France, Saudi Arabia, the UK, Netherlands, Hong Kong, Germany, among others. — DVM, GMA News