The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed Monday that all cities in the National Capital Region have recorded the SARS-COV-2 variants of concern.
“Hindi po natin ipagkakaila ‘yan na talagang nakikita na natin itong mga variants, nasa lahat na ng cities dito sa Metro Manila, at ‘yan po ay factual na (There is no denying that we are now seeing these variants in all cities of Metro Manila and that is factual),” DOH Spokesperson Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vegeire revealed in an online briefing.
Some cities have either the B.1.1.7 (UK variant) or the B.1.351 (South Africa variant) while others have both. These variants of concerns have contributed to the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases.
However, Usec. Vergeire said the root cause factors are the public’s poor compliance with the minimum public health standards and some “institutional gaps” that we have.
Despite the presence of these variants of concern in all cities in Metro Manila, the DOH stressed that they are still waiting for the World Health Organization if they would declare a local or community transmission of these variants.
“Sa ngayon, kailangan natin i-confer sa WHO if indeed community transmission of these variants are present already. Ito po ay isang proseso na ginagawa ng Department of Health kung saan kami ay humihingi ng tulong sa WHO para sila ang makapagbigay sa atin ng guidance and confirmation if there really is local transmission or community transmission of these variants (For now, we have to confer with WHO if indeed community transmission of these variants are present already. This is a process that the Department of Health does where we ask the help of WHO so they could give guidance and confirmation if there really is local transmission or community transmission of these variants,” Usec. Vergeire explained.
Last Saturday, the DOH reported 46 additional UK variants, 62 South African variants and 6 more P.3 variant cases.
This brings the total to 223 UK variant cases, 152 South Africa variant cases and 104 P.3 variant cases. – Mark Fetalco
