3 close contacts of India variant COVID-19 case positive

Three close contacts of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who carried the India variant of COVID-19 have tested positive for the virus.

The OFW is a 58-year-old seafarer who returned from the United Arab Emirates.

Out of the 32 verified close contacts on his flight, three tested positive for COVID-19, while 28 tested negative.

The health status of one passenger is still being verified by the DOH.

The swab sample of one of the close contacts who tested positive will be subjected for genome sequencing to determine if the person also carries the same coronavirus variant.

DOH is still attempting to locate the other two close contacts who tested positive.

Meanwhile, three out of the six close contacts on the plane of another 37-year-old Filipino seafarer from Oman tested negative for the viral illness, with the DOH still searching for the remaining three contacts.