DOH: No new dangerous strain of SARS-CoV-2

On Friday, September 4, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire debunked claims about a new, more dangerous strain of SARS-CoV-2 targeting specific age groups in the Philippines.

Vergeire emphasized that there is no evidence supporting such claims and stressed that it is irresponsible to suggest otherwise.

She clarified that the higher number of cases among people aged 20-49 years old is due to their frequent activities outside, rather than an alleged new strain targeting them.

The DOH previously detected the G614 variant but emphasized that while this specific strain has a higher viral load, it does not automatically mean it is more infectious or fatal.

Vergeire noted that there were fewer coronavirus cases in the country on Wednesday and Thursday compared to previous days, though health officials compute trends over a 7-day period for accuracy.

She urged the public to avoid relying on anecdotal information and instead use evidence-based data for accurate understanding.