PH detects 4th Omicron variant case

THE Department of Health (DOH) on Monday, December 27, 2021, reported the detection of the fourth Omicron variant coronavirus disease (Covid-19) case in the Philippines.

In a virtual press briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said a 38-year-old Filipino female traveler from the United States (US) was found positive for the Omicron variant.

“An additional imported case of Omicron was also detected,” Vergeire said.

Currently in home isolation, the patient had a negative pre-departure swab test on December 7, but had exposure from friends in the US the day before her departure.

She arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on December 10 via Philippine Airlines PR 127.

She began having symptoms of throat itchiness and colds on December 13.

The traveler was tested while under quarantine on December 14, 2021, with the result being positive.

She was released from facility isolation after becoming asymptomatic on December 24, 2021.

“The detection of the Omicron after the sequencing came after when the individual was discharged already,” Vergeire said.

She is set for reswab testing on Tuesday, according to Vergeire.

More Delta variant

Aside from another Omicron variant case, the DOH also reported the detection of 38 additional Delta variant cases in the country.

Of the 46 samples sequenced on December 24, 38 were found positive for the Delta variant.

“There were 82.61 percent (38) positive from Delta variant (B.1.617.2; first detected in India),” Vergeire said.

This brought the total number of Delta variant cases in the country to 8,452.

“The Delta variant (B.1.617.2) is the most common lineage (42.43 percent) nationally,” said Vergeire. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)