Husband of 4th Omicron case positive for virus

THE Department of Health (DOH) said Tuesday, December 28, that the husband of the fourth Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) case in the Philippines has tested positive for coronavirus.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the 37-year-old Filipino husband got the virus, but it is not yet known whether he has the Omicron variant.

“Both wife and husband were tested on the same day and isolated upon release of positive result,” said Vergeire.

“Sample of husband has not been sent together with the wife’s to PGC (Philippine Genome Center) for sequencing. Husband’s sample will be processed now for sequencing,” she added.

On Monday, December 27, the DOH reported the detection of the country’s fourth Omicron variant case — a 38-year-old Filipino female traveler from the United States (US).

“Husband and wife came home together from the US,” said Vergeire.

She added that the couple had already been discharged on December 24 after completing their 10-day isolation.

But with the wife testing positive for the Omicron variant, Vergeire said the husband has been brought back to isolation.

She also said that the other household members will be tested based on existing protocols.

Vergeire said they are still trying to identify the couple’s close contacts during their flight from the US.

“We are going to apply the epidemiological definition of close contacts in terms of riding a plane, that would be four seats in front, four seats beside, and four seats at the back,” said Vergeire. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)