Manila Bulletin
Why new Lambda COVID-19 variant triggered concerns globally, PH Genome Center exec explains
The Philippines has not yet detected the Lambda variant of the coronavirus, according to Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.
The Lambda variant, first identified in Peru in December 2020, has spread to 30 countries and is classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a 'variant of interest'.
Philippine Genome Center (PGC) Executive Director Cynthia Saloma stated that Lambda is an 'emerging global public health risk' due to rising cases in South America.
Saloma noted that it is still being studied whether Lambda is more deadly or causes more severe symptoms compared to the Delta variant.
It is also not yet known if Lambda is more transmissible than the Delta variant, as data is limited.
The Delta variant, confirmed to be highly transmissible, is a WHO 'variant of concern' and has reached at least 80 countries.
While the Delta variant has been detected in 19 Filipinos, no community transmission has occurred in the country.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) still classifies the Lambda variant of COVID-19 as a variant of interest while more research is being conducted.
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The Philippines is closely monitoring the Lambda variant (C.37) of Covid-19, which was first detected in Peru and Latin America.
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The Philippines has detected two additional cases of the Delta variant among returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), bringing the total number of Delta variant cases in the country to 19.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) has downgraded the classification of the P.3 coronavirus variant, which was first detected in the Philippines, from a "variant of interest" to an "alert for further monitoring."
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