PH detects 18 more UK COVID-19 variant cases, 3 more cases of mutations

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<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/reuters/07/06/20200309-covid-19-generic-photos-niaid.jpg"/><figcaption>Transmission electron micrograph of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles, isolated from a patient. Image captured and color-enhanced at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. <em>NIAID</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATE)</strong> - The Philippines has detected 18 more patients with the more contagious COVID-19 variant first found in the United Kingdom, and an additional 3 cases of coronavirus mutation, the Department of Health said Sunday.</p><p>The 18 new B.1.1.7 variant cases brings the county&#x27;s total to 62. Of the new cases, 13 were returning Filipino migrant workers who entered the country between Jan. 3 to 27, the DOH said in a statement.</p><p>Three other cases are from the Cordillera Administrative Region, 2 of which are both 12-year-old males connected to the original cluster from Samoki, Bontoc, Mountain Province, according to the agency.</p><p>The third case is a 41 year-old female connected to the first La Trinidad cluster. All 3 cases are now tagged as recovered and all close contacts have completed quarantine, the DOH added.</p><p>Two other patients are being verified if they are local cases or returning Filipino migrant workers, the health department said. </p><p>The total number of patients found to have both N501Y and E484K coronavirus mutations has climbed to 34 following 3 additional cases, said the DOH.</p><p>The 2 mutations have &quot;potential clinical significance&quot; of COVID-19 in Central Visayas, the DOH earlier said.</p><p>The E484K mutation is present in the South African variant of SARS-CoV-2. The N501Y mutation is also found in the UK coronavirus variant, which has been associated by experts with higher transmissibility.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1625584" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>In an interview with ANC Monday, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the increased COVID-19 cases in Central Visayas could not be solely attributed to the presence of mutations.</p><p>&quot;Well that would be a possibility but we can&#x27;t attribute it to this factor because there are also other factors why cases are increasing in certain areas in the Visayas,&quot; she said.</p><p>The region has recently relaxed to a more relaxed community quarantine, she said, which means higher mobility and contact rate.</p><p>Despite the surge in coronavirus infections, Vergeire said the health-care utilization rate in Central Visayas was still at 48 percent or low risk, meaning hospitals could still cope with COVID-19 cases.</p><p>&quot;We will be assessing after 1 week if they are managing so that we can be able to assess what type of assistance they would be needing,&quot; she added.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/19/21/does-ph-have-own-covid-19-variant-expert-says-it-remains-to-be-seen">Does PH have own COVID-19 variant? Expert says it remains to be seen</a></li>	<li><a href=" https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/19/21/doh-all-cases-with-covid-19-mutations-in-central-visayas-out-of-quarantine">DOH: All cases with COVID-19 mutations in Central Visayas out of quarantine</a></li></ul><p>The DOH urged local governments with cases of coronavirus variants and mutations with potential clinical significance to closely monitor the situation and implement anti-virus measures such as localized lockdowns, active case finding, immediate contact tracing, and isolation/quarantine.</p><p>&quot;The goal is to bring down transmission rates to levels where biosurveillance can no longer detect mutations of interest,&quot; it said.</p><p>The Philippines as of Saturday reported 559,288 COVID-19 cases, of which 34,100 are active infections.</p><p>The country has yet to officially start vaccination of its population even as its Asian neighbors have already rolled out their respective inoculation programs.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/19/21/vaccine-czar-nag-sorry-nagpaliwanag-sa-pagkaantala-ng-covid-19-vaccines">Vaccine czar nag-sorry, nagpaliwanag sa pagkaantala ng COVID-19 vaccines</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/02/21/21/malaysia-to-start-covid-19-vaccination-drive-early-as-first-doses-arrive">Malaysia to start COVID-19 vaccination drive early as first doses arrive</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/02/18/21/japans-covid-19-vaccine-rollout-expands-beyond-tokyo-area">Japan&#x27;s COVID-19 vaccine rollout expands beyond Tokyo area</a></li></ul><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zBboztRRjic?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>The Philippines has detected 18 more patients with the more contagious COVID-19 variant first found in the United Kingdom, and an additional 3 cases of coronavirus mutation, the Department of Health said Sunday.</p>

The Philippines has detected 18 more patients with the more contagious COVID-19 variant first found in the United Kingdom, and an additional 3 cases of coronavirus mutation, the Department of Health said Sunday.

PH detects 18 more UK COVID-19 variant cases, 3 more cases of mutations | ABS-CBN

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PH detects 18 more UK COVID-19 variant cases, 3 more cases of mutations

PH detects 18 more UK COVID-19 variant cases, 3 more cases of mutations

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 21, 2021 02:55 PM PHT

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Updated Feb 22, 2021 11:12 AM PHT

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DOH

Department of Health

UK COVID-19 variant

COVID-19 mutation

N501Y

E484K

Philippines COVID-19

Philippines COVID-19 mutations

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