Two more infectious COVID-19 variants have been detected in Negros Oriental, Dr. Liland Estacion, Assistant Provincial Health Officer, said Thursday, June 24.
They are the P.3 or Theta variant, a local mutation first reported in Central Visayas, and the Alpha variant, also known as the B.1.1.7, that was first detected in the United Kingdom, Estacion said in a virtual presser.
The B.1.1.7 variant is 40 to 80 percent more transmittable, she said
Estacion said she received a report from the Philippine Genome Center on Thursday morning that of the sample specimens taken from COVID-19 positive cases in Negros Oriental for testing, two of them came back positive for the mutations.
The person infected with the Theta variant is from Dumaguete City and has recovered, while the Alpha variant hit a Tanjay City resident, Estacion added.
Contact tracing is underway for persons who were exposed to the two patients, she said.
She stressed the need to follow minimum health protocols to avoid being infected by the virus.*