The Department of Health confirms detecting the country’s first case of the B1.1.318 COVID-19 variant.
The DOH said that the sample was taken on March 10 from a traveler from UAE.
RELATED STORY: DOH: No detected Delta subvariant in PH yet
Authorities affirmed to the public that the 34-year-old male patient has been tagged as recovered.
The variant has been first reported in the island nation of Mauritius and while other reports say that it was detected in the United Kingdom.
This variant is classified as ‘under monitoring’ based on the World Health Organization data.
READ ON: COVID-19 vaccines effective Delta variant infections – study
“Let me just reiterate, it’s a variant under monitoring. Lahat po pinag-aaralan sa ngayon, wala po tayong cause to panic. Kailangan lang po maging vigilant pa rin tayong lahat and follow our minimum public health standards,” Health spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a press briefing.
The WHO and international experts are keeping a close watch on the B.1.1.318 over its possible impact on vaccine efficacy. (AW)
