DOST: 700 samples needed to detect new Covid-19 variant
About 700 samples are needed to determine if a new Covid-19 variant has reached the Philippines, according to DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña.
The Philippine Genome Center currently has only tested 350 samples and all variants of the virus can be detected through DNA sequencing.
Dr. Edsel Salvaña, an IATF-EID technical working group member, warns that while no new variant has been detected in the Philippines, vigilance is still necessary as the original virus can cause spikes.
The DOH announced Wednesday that gene sequencing from over 300 samples of COVID-19-positive travelers did not detect the new variant.
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