PH confirms first Brazil variant case

The Philippines has confirmed its first case of the P1 variant of COVID-19, commonly known as the Brazil variant, a highly transmissible strain that can re-infect individuals who have previously recovered from the virus.

The first P1 variant case involves a returning overseas Filipino (ROF) who hails from Western Visayas.

Scientists estimate that the P1 variant is 1.4 to 2.2 times more transmissible than the original strain of the virus.

The P1 variant is believed to have first emerged in Brazil and has since been detected in at least 20 other countries.

In addition to the Brazil variant, the DOH also reported 59 new cases of the UK variant, bringing the total number of confirmed UK variant infections in the Philippines to 177.

Of the 59 new UK variant cases, 30 are local transmissions, 18 are from returning overseas Filipinos, and 11 are still under verification.

The local cases of the UK variant are primarily concentrated in the Cordillera Administrative Region (16 cases) and the National Capital Region (10 cases).