The Department of Health Center for Health Development Western Visayas (DOH CHD WV), through the Philippine Genome Center, said no new variant of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been detected in Western Visayas.
DOH 6 Infectious Disease Cluster Head Dr. Mary Jane Roches Juanico disclosed during the Isyung Bakuna – Online Talakayan of DOH6 and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-6 that from among the specimens sent to the Philippine Genome Center, none came back positive of any new variant.
“As for the variant, among the specimen that we sent to the Philippine Genome Center (PGC), as of this time, we have sent 45 specimens; so far none came back positive for any variant. Meaning (there is) zero new variant for Region 6,” Juanico stressed.
The spike in COVID-19 cases in the region particularly in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental led the department to increase its capacity for bio-surveillance.
“Our laboratories here in Western Visayas have continuously sent specimen to the Philippine Genome Center to determine if there are already active cases of variants of COVID-19,” Juanico said.
The DOH6 made follow ups on the specimen sent through Teresita L. Jalandoni Molecular Lab and the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital as to specimen that might have new variants.
“We are looking at areas with spike of cases, and if they (PGC) find it too amplified even with less than 30 cycles, they can detect COVID-19. This warrants further investigation under the PGC to determine if these are COVID-19 variants or if still the original variant,” she added.LTP/EAD-PIA6 Negros Occidental
