The Bureau of Quarantine said that it is monitoring passengers from South Africa and other nations that detected the B.1.1.529 coronavirus variant or Omicron.
The newly discovered variant is considered to be more contagious than Delta variant.
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BOQ deputy director Dr. Roberto Salvador Jr. said they have yet to detect travelers from Omicron-hit countries.
“Inutusan ang BOQ at DILG na i-locate ang travelers na posibleng galing sa affected country ng variant,” Salvador said.
“Sa ngayon, wala pa tayong namo-monitor na kababayan galing sa affected country,” he added.
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Salvador said that Omicron is 500 times more contagious than Delta variant.
“Dahil sa bagong variant ng COVID-19 na kinatatakutan ngayon dahil sinasabing nakakahawa ng 500 times more infectious sa Delta virus,” he said. (TDT)
