THREE COVID-19 VARIANTS IN R1

THREE types of COVID-19 variants were already detected in Region 1 in 43 cases.

While the 43 patients have recovered, the Department of Health-Center for Health Development 1 reported and identified during the Virtual Presser of the Philippine Information Agency Region 1 on June 28, the three variants detected in the region : the Alpha variant that originated from the United Kingdom; the Beta variant from South Africa; and the Theta variant found only among COVID-19 patients in the Philippines.

Dr. Rheuel Bobis, chief of the infectious disease division of DOH-CHD 1 said the Alpha variant was detected on 22 COVID-19 patients; the Beta variant on 20 patients; and the Theta variant on one patient.

Based on the data of DOH-CHD 1, the lone Theta variant was detected on the specimen of one COVID-19 patient in La Union province. The province also registered three Beta variants.

Pangasinan had eight patients found with the Alpha variant and another 11 with the Beta variant. Ilocos Norte registered seven patients with the Alpha variant and another five with Beta variant.

Meanwhile, Ilocos Sur had four patients detected with Alpha variant and one with Beta variant.

In spite of fears, no Delta variant, the most infectious variant detected in India, was found on any of the COVID-19 patients in Region 1.

Dr. Bobis clarified that all the patients detected with these three COVID-19 variants were mostly asymptomatic, except three who were symptomatic.

All three variants, he said, are more transmittable than the original COVID-19 strain but there was no evidence if their infection is severe. Moreover, there was no evidence found that these variants can affect the efficacy of the vaccines.

Bobis revealed that the COVID-19 variants were detected on returning Overseas Filipino Workers: two came  from Dubai, and one each from Bahrain, Qatar and United Arab Emirates.

Of the patients afflicted with the COVID-19 variants, 22 are male and 21 are female with ages 18 to 82 years old.

Meanwhile, Bobis confirmed that the four vaccines received by Region 1, namely Sinovac, AstraZenica, Pfizer and Sputnik, are 100 percent effective against severe and critical COVID-19 infection. (Leonardo Micua)

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