The Department of Health (DOH-6) on Tuesday, Aug. 3, reported 42 additional cases of COVID-19 variants.
Based on the latest whole genome sequencing report, 15 samples tested positive for the Alpha variant, 23 tested positive for the Beta variant, and four tested positive for the P.3 or Theta variant.
The Alpha variant cases were from Antique (7), Iloilo City (4), Iloilo province (2), Capiz (1), and Negros Occidental (1).
Of the Beta variant cases, 16 were from Iloilo province, 2 each from Iloilo City and Capiz, and one each from Aklan, Negros Occidental, and Antique.
The P.3 variant cases were from Iloilo City (1), Iloilo province (1), Capiz (1), and Negros Occidental (1).
The Alpha and Beta variants are classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as variants of concern due to their increased transmissibility.
Meanwhile, the P.3 variant is classified as a variant under “alert for further monitoring” because of its decreased and sporadic detection.
DOH-6 director Adriano P. Suba-an said they are “working closely with the local government units (LGUs) and their health offices to complete the case profile of the identified local cases.”
“Contact tracing will be conducted to include their first- to third-generation contacts as well as backtracing to determine the possible source of the infection,” he said.IMT
