Philippines reports eight more UK variant cases, total now at 25

The number of COVID-19 patients with the UK variant has increased to 25 after eight more cases were detected.

Three cases are from Bontoc, Mountain Province: two females aged 25 and 54 (close contacts) and a 31-year-old male. The 54-year-old female has recovered while the other two remain active cases.

Two additional cases are from La Trinidad, Benguet: an asymptomatic 15-year-old girl who is a relative of a previous case and an 84-year-old man with no travel history or contact with known patients; the latter died on January 24.

The remaining two cases are returning overseas Filipinos who have recovered.