COVID-19 VARIANTS HIT CARAGA REGION
CARAGA REGION – The deadly coronavirus disease (covid-19) continued to wreak havoc in the Philippines. This, as the Department of Health in Caraga Region 13, confirmed 11 variants of the killer virus which are now in the region.
Citing reports from Philippine News Agency, DOH-13 on Thursday reported that these 11 variants of covid-19 were confirmed based on the test results received from the University of the Philippines – Philippine Genome Center.
DOH-13 said in a statement: “Of the 68 samples, 11 were positive for Covid-19 variants, one B.1.1.7 first detected in the UK, two B.1.351 first detected in South Africa, and eight P.3, first detected in the Philippines.”
DOH 13 revealed that the first case of B.1.17 covid variant was from Buenavista, Agusan del Norte, while all other cases are residents of Butuan City. It was also known that all the patients contracted with the covid variants are asymptomatic.
“Upon initial investigation, these cases are Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs), Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROFs), and close contacts of LSIs with no travel history outside Caraga,” the DOH-13 report claimed.
“They have already completed their prescribed quarantine period and discharged from their respective quarantine facilities. Monitoring and tracing of their close contacts are being conducted by the concerned local government units (LGUs),” DOH-13 added.
Meanwhile, DOH-13 Director Dr Cesar C. Cassion warned residents that with the present and detected covid-19 variants now in the region, people must adhere to the protocols of minimum health standards such as wearing face masks and face shields all the time, social distancing whenever they are out of the house, listen only to verified information, and do frequent handwashing.
“Moreover, we call upon the priority eligible groups such as front-liners, senior citizens, and those with co-morbidities to coordinate with your respective health units for enlistment to our ongoing vaccination program against Covid-19, to get an additional layer of protection,” Cassion said.
