DOH to submit Cebu COVID-19 mutations to WHO for classification

The Department of Health (DOH) will submit samples of two coronavirus mutations detected in Cebu City, identified as E484K and N501Y, to the World Health Organization (WHO) for classification.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire stated that these mutations are still under study and have not yet been classified as new variants.

Vergeire assured the public that there is no cause for alarm at this time while the DOH continues monitoring the situation.

The Philippine Genome Center (PGC) detected 37 out of 50 samples with these mutations, including both E484K and N501Y in 29 cases.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said that designating these as new variants remains uncertain but is unlikely to delay the planned easing of quarantine rules.