The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed a local transmission of the new and more transmissible variant of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
According to the DOH, the local transmission of the B117 variant of Sars-CoV-2 was detected in Bontoc, Mountain Province “as identified through genomic sequencing”.
However, there is still no evidence proving the presence of community transmission based on the standards of the World Health Organization (WHO).
“To date, all identified cases with the UK variant can be epidemiologically linked to cases coming directly from outside the country (importation) or from specific cases or exposures that can still be identified (local transmission),” the department pointed out.
According to WHO, community transmission will only be declared if the report cases reach a large number, case clusters are recorded in other areas, and that if the infection cannot be coordinated with the sources. – PTV News
