THE Department of Health (DOH) yesterday said cases of COVID-19 virus variants have spread throughout the country, with 11 of 17 regions found to have residents infected with both the United Kingdom (B.1.1.7) and the South African (B.1.351) variants.
In a virtual press briefing, DOH – Epidemiology Bureau Director Dr. Alethea de Guzman said the 11 regions that have both variants of concerns (VOCs) are the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Cordillera Administrative Region, National Capital Region, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen, and Caraga.
“We have 12 regions that have at least 1 detected B.1.1.7 (UK) variant case, and 15 regions in total that have at least 1 detected B.1.351 (South African) variant case,” said De Guzman.
The other regions with the South African variant are Bicol Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao Region, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
On the other hand, the only other region with the UK variant is Eastern Visayas.
De Guzman said all Brazil (P.1) and Indian (B.1.617) variant cases have so far been detected among arriving travelers only.
In all, the country has detected 1,109 South African variant cases, 967 UK variant cases, 158 Philippine variant cases, 12 Indian variant cases, and 2 Brazil variant cases.
The variants were found among 7,250 swab samples that underwent whole genome sequencing, which is part of the DOH’s assessment of the clustering of cases in specific areas.
“We want to be able to determine the exact contribution of the variants of concern to case spikes in the areas where there are clustering,” De Guzman said.
“There is an increasing proportion with VOCs among sequenced samples,” she added.
