DOH: No UK COVID-19 variant detected in PH

The Department of Health (DOH) reports that the UK variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has not been detected in the Philippines.

Despite a Hong Kong resident testing positive for the variant after traveling from the Philippines, the DOH and Philippine Genome Center (PGC) have analyzed 305 samples and found no evidence of the new strain.

The DOH is still awaiting information from Hong Kong's International Health Regulations focal point to determine how and where the Hong Kong passenger contracted the UK variant.