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DOH: 78% of co-passengers of Pinoy infected with UK variant of coronavirus now under isolation
The Department of Health (DoH) and Philippine Genome Center (PGC) confirmed the presence of the UK coronavirus variant (B.1.1.7) in the Philippines.
The case involves a Filipino male resident of Quezon City who tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival from Dubai on January 7, after traveling for business on December 27.
Seventy-eight percent, or 125 out of 159, of the co-passengers of the infected individual are now in isolation and awaiting test results.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire stated that 125 individuals are currently in quarantine facilities or undergoing home quarantine, with all having undergone RT-PCR testing and specimen collection for genome sequencing.
The patient and his girlfriend traveled to the UAE on Emirates Flight No. EK 335 and returned via EK 332.
Authorities are continuing contact tracing efforts, with some passengers rejecting calls, having switched off phones, or providing incorrect contact information.
The Philippines has imposed temporary travel restrictions on 30 countries due to concerns about the UK variant.
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