Most of the UK COVID-19 variant (B.1.1.7) patients in the Philippines had already recovered, but one died, the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed today.
Maria Rosario Vergeire told reporters on Monday that 22 of the 25 patients who tested positive for the new strain have recovered.
“We have two remaining active cases, we have one who have died and the rest, the 22, have already recovered,” wika ng DOH official sa isang media forum kanina.
Vergeire is still investigating who infected the deceased in Benguet, who was pronounced dead in the “third or fourth week of January”.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says that the UK COVID-19 variant is up to 70% more contagious than normal.
The DOH has yet to say whether the B.1.1.7 variant has a “community transmission” in the Philippines, although two of those who were infected have “no visible link” where the disease originated.
“Further investigation is still required before we can confirm this. Because when we talk about community transmission, ito po ‘Yung laganap na o widespread na ‘yung mga variants sa lugar na ito,” said Vergeire.
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“Ibig sabihin wala na tayong makita na pinagkukuhanan ng impeksyon at kumalat na ang infection. So we have to be very careful when we declare this.”
They said they are still investigating the details to see how the cases are related to each other before declaring any announcements regarding the transmission.
According to the government’s latest report this Sunday, COVID-19 has hit 537,310 in the Philippines. That number is now dead at 11,179 people.
Last week, the Department of Health has confirmed that it is not impossible for a person to carry more than one COVID-19 variant.
Some of the new COVID-19 variants that are feared today are those discovered in the United Kingdom and South Africa – something more contagious than usual.