THE Department of Health (DOH) said 43 swab specimens that were found positive for Sars-CoV-2 have been sent to the UP Philippine Genome Center (PGC) for genome sequencing to determine whether these contain the B.1.1.7 variant.
DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Friday, January 29, 2021, said the 43 cases are close contacts of the confirmed B.1.1.7 cases in Bontoc, Mountain Province.
“We are still waiting for the results of the genome sequencing. It is going to be released, hopefully, by Monday,” said Vergeire.
The DOH has confirmed 12 cases of infection with the B.1.1.7 variant in Bontoc. Two other coronavirus-positive individuals do not carry this variant.
As of Friday, the DOH said contact tracing activities in the area has already reached 369 individuals.
Of the 369, the DOH said 233 have already been tested through reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
There were 135 individuals whose tests yielded negative results and 41 others who are still waiting for their test results.
“This is the result of our reconciliation of data with the Cordillera Administrative Region, specifically in the areas where we are doing contact tracing,” said Vergeire.
As of Friday, the DOH has confirmed 17 B.1.1.7 cases in the country. (HDT / SunStar Philippines)