4 PH travelers from China infected with Omicron subvariants: DOH

By Ma. Teresa Montemayor | Philippine News Agency

 

Four of the eight Filipino travelers from China who tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) were infected with two Omicron sub variants, a health official said on Friday.

During an online town hall meeting, Department of Health Epidemiology Bureau Director Dr. Alethea de Guzman reported three were infected with BF.7 while one was infected with BA.5.2.

“Ito ‘yung mga hindi bagong variants. Dati na nating ‘tong mga nade-detect (These variants are not new. We have been detecting these before),” she said. 

The samples of the other four travelers did not have an assigned lineage.

“Minsan pagka-transport nade-degrade ‘yung quality ng specimen kaya hindi natin ma-sequence (Sometimes, the quality of the specimen degrades during transport and so we’re unable to sequence them),” de Guzman said.

Earlier, the World Health Organization said BF.7 and BA.5.2 are driving the recent wave of Covid-19 infections in China.

On Dec. 27, 2022 to Jan. 2, 2023, the eight Filipino travelers from China entered the country. They are all unvaccinated and tested positive via antigen screening upon their arrival at the airport.

They had 89 close contacts and only one of these contacts manifested Covid-19 symptoms. (PNA

Popular

PBBM vows sustained recovery efforts in Cebu after deadly quake

By Brian Campued President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday assured Cebuanos that the government will continue to provide assistance in Cebu as it reels...

PBBM to soldiers: Serve the citizenry, protect the homeland

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet “Panata ito ng katapatan sa tungkulin at paninindigan para sa bayan.” At the oath-taking ceremony of 29 newly promoted generals and flag...

Gov’t assures prompt aid to Cebu quake victims

By Brian Campued Following the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to provide immediate relief to families and individuals affected by the magnitude 6.9...

PBBM assures sustained gov’t support to calamity-hit Masbate

By Brian Campued President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday assured the public that the government will continue to provide various forms of assistance to...