Patient can test positive for multiple COVID-19 variants – DOH

The Department of Health has confirmed that it is not impossible for a person to carry more than one COVID-19 variant.

That is what Maria Rosario Vergeire shared on Wednesday, in the Laging Handa public briefing after some variants of COVID-19 were seen in two patients in Brazil.

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“Actually, weeks ago, noong nag-uusap po ang ating task force on COVID-19 variants, ang ating mga eksperto ay nagsabi na rin na meron talagang probability, or merong posibilidad na magkaroon ng dalawang klaseng variants ang isang tao,” said Vergeire.

“Ngunit wala pa rin naman po tayong nakikitang ganyan dito sa ating mga ginagawang mga test.”

Some of the new COVID-19 variants that are feared today are those discovered in the United Kingdom and South Africa – something more contagious than usual.

The UK COVID-19 variant has already entered the Philippines, which is up to 70% more contagious than normal. Most of the patients it affected were in Bontoc, Mt. Province.

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“Sa ngayon po, pinag-aaralan pa rin po ‘yan. ‘Yung lumabas na artikulo na ‘yan ay kailangan pa ng further study, mas masusing pag-aaral, at para rin malaman natin kung anong magiging implikasyon nito para dito sa nangyayaring pandemya na ito,” the DOH official said.

Patient can test positive for multiple COVID-19 variants – DOH

“As to the reports here in our country, hanggang sa ngayon po, 17 pa lang po rin ang ating nade-detect na variants. Wala pa hong nadadagdag diyan. ‘Yung pinakahuli po nating ginawang genome sequencing among 48 specimens, wala po tayong natagpuan na variant that has public health significance, or makakaapekto dito sa pagkakahawa-hawa rito sa ating bansa.”

Next week, the DOH will return to “regular procedures” with 750 specimens every seven days especially since their necessary supplies and reagents have arrived.

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Meanwhile, more Filipinos say they are willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19 once it is available in the Philippines, based on an online survey.

According to a survey conducted by professors and students of the University of the Philippines, 55.9 percent of 15,651 respondents said they would get vaccinated against coronavirus disease.

Of that number, 23.7 percent answered “yes” while 32.1 percent answered “probably yes.”

About 34 percent said they were unsure, 6.7 percent said “probably no” and 3.5 percent said “no.”

The survey also showed that people are more confident about vaccines from America and Europe.