Another case of the more contagious COVID-19 Omicron variant has been detected in the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) reported today.
According to the latest biosurveillance data from the DOH, UP-Philippine Genome Center, and UP-National Institutes of Health, here are the details of the said case:
- 36-year-old man
- returning overseas Filipino, sea-based OFW from Qatar
- not vaccinated against COVID-19
- has a travel history in Egypt
- arrived in the Philippines on November 28 (Mactan-Cebu International Airport) via Qatar Airways
Upon arrival in the Philippines, the man was immediately quarantined in an isolation facility.
The aforementioned is under home quarantine in Cavite and endorsed for vaccination against COVID-19.
However, he tested negative for COVID-19 by December 19.
3rd Omicron case in PH an unvaccinated OFW from Qatar
“We were able to identify three close contacts from the flight manifest,” said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.
“Na-monitor natin, home quarantine sila. We already re-tested them [for COVID-19], and all of them had results of negative.”
Aside from being more contagious than usual, the Omicron variant is said to reduce the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines.
Last week, the Philippines reported its first cases of Omicron variant, the Department of Health said.
DOH said one of the cases is a returning overseas Filipino who arrived from Japan on December 1 via Philippine Airlines flight number PR 0427.
The other is a Nigerian national who arrived from Nigeria on November 30 via Oman Air with flight number WY 843.
The DOH said that the two are currently under quarantine at a facility under the Bureau of Quarantine.
Seven of the eight identified close contacts of two Omicron variant cases in the country were negative for COVID-19.
“Close contact had a negative RT-PCR released last December 4 based on the arrival line list. You may be wondering why there is only one close contact for our 48-year-old male from Japan. It was because he was seated in a business class, and it was just one passenger with him in this business class section,” said Vergeire.
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