GF, mother of UK variant patient test negative for B.1.1.7

The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed that the girlfriend and mother of the first Filipino infected with the UK variant of COVID-19 have tested positive for the virus, but later tested negative for the B.1.1.7 variant.

The girlfriend initially tested negative upon arrival on January 7, but tested positive less than a week later, and later tested negative for the variant.

The mother's sample had a CT value above 30, indicating a low viral load, which may make it harder to detect the variant, but she later tested negative for the variant.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte confirmed that both the mother and girlfriend are in quarantine and isolation, and have not yet been confirmed to have the UK B.1.1.7 variant, but they later tested negative for the variant.

The patient who had tested positive for the UK variant now tests negative for coronavirus, according to the Quezon City government, and is under health monitoring for at least two weeks.

The patient arrived in the Philippines on a flight from the UAE on January 7 and went abroad with his girlfriend in December for a business trip.

The Quezon City government has identified 213 individuals who were considered contacts of the patient, including co-passengers, household members, and healthcare workers.

Of the tested contacts, 15 tested positive, including the girlfriend and mother, but they later tested negative for the B.1.1.7 variant.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said genome sequencing results for the positive cases will be available by January 23, but the mother and girlfriend tested negative for the variant.