DOH tracing 41 co-travelers of India variant cases

The DOH is tracing and checking the health status of 41 travelers who were on the same flights as two seafarers found to have the B.1.617 coronavirus variant first detected in India.

One case, a 37-year-old male from Oman, had six close contacts on his flight; the second case, a 58-year-old male from the UAE, had 35 close contacts.

In an airplane setting, 'close contact' refers to passengers seated four seats in front of, behind, and beside a COVID-19 case.

All close contacts underwent quarantine and testing upon arrival in the Philippines.