The Department of Health on Saturday said it has detected a different COVID-19 variant—the B.1.1.203—in a traveler who arrived from South Africa last month as the Philippine Genome Center urged DOH-accredited laboratories to hasten their submission of samples with the country bracing for the entry of the more transmissible Omicron strain.
DOH… “From the start, we said we cannot definitely say that it won’t be able to enter. The question here is when it will enter. There’s a big chance it will get here and we are preparing,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said.
No case of Omicron had been detected in the Philippines yet based on the result of the whole genome sequencing released December 9.
“We already included those who arrived from South Africa. The results included one variant – the B.1.1.203. It’s not Omicron nor one of the variants that we are monitoring. It is also not a variant of concern or interest,” Vergeire said.
Only two of the 253 travelers who arrived from South Africa from Nov. 15 to 29 have yet to be located.
The two unlocated passengers, who arrived on Nov. 22, had addresses in Mimaropa and Mindanao. They have tested negative for COVID-19, but the local governments are still looking for them.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III earlier said he is looking at the possibility of publishing the names of travelers who will not provide correct personal details in their health declaration forms upon arrival in the Philippines.
“We will push for that. I will see to what extent I can do that because I strongly feel that this is a weakness in the system and sometimes unintended consequences of laws that weaken the ability to do more effective contact tracing or back-tracing,” Duque said.
For her part, PGC Executive Director Dr. Cynthia Saloma said if DOH-accredited laboratories are able to submit their samples faster, the center can screen immediately as they have the capacity to sequence 750 samples weekly.
“Our laboratories should work double time in submitting samples because sometimes the 750 slots are not filled. This is a very important effort of genomic biosurveillance,” she said.
On Saturday, the country logged 356 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total tally to 2,836,360 and marking the 18th straight day that less than 1,000 cases were reported.
Active infections stood at 11,373, of which 902 are asymptomatic, 4,328 are mild, 3,747 are moderate, 1,991 are severe, and 405 are in critical condition.
Despite the Omicron threat, the government said Filipinos are heading for a happy Christmas this year as COVID-19 cases remain low and vaccination rates improve.
“Now we see the fruits of our labor. Now we see we will be having a happy Christmas,” said Assistant Secretary Wilben Mayor, National Task Force against COVID-19 head of strategic communications.
Amid the low COVID-19 numbers, the DOH said caroling and street parties are allowed this Christmas so long as organizers follow the guidelines, including a maximum of 70 percent of the venue capacity for outdoor events.
DOH director Dr. Beverly Ho said, however, that if organizers or local officials do not have the capacity to enforce the guidelines, then they should forgo these parties.
Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. pointed to major milestones marked under the national vaccination program as a reason for optimism.
The government is optimistic it can inoculate more than seven million Filipinos during the second round of National Vaccination Days event scheduled from December 15 to 17.
The massive vaccination drive is part of the national government’s efforts to inoculate as many Filipinos as possible against COVID-19, especially those residing in areas outside the National Capital Region.
The government is keen on repeating the success achieved during the first round where the government was able to administer 10.2 million vaccine doses nationwide from November 29 to December 3.
“I hope the local government units around the Philippines will continue to perform and meet the target of 7 million or more,” said NTF special adviser Dr. Teodoro Herbosa said following the arrival of 3,646,600 doses of AstraZeneca and Moderna vaccines at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Friday.
“I want to ask our fellow Filipinos who are still not vaccinated to please get your vaccines. Walk-ins are allowed,” he added.