WITH THE detection of the B.1.1.7 cases in the region, the Department of Health-XI Central Epidemiology Bureau and the Center for Health Development called for an emergency meeting with local government units for a coordinated response.
In a statement, the DOH-XI said the intensive investigation is ongoing and they are conducting contact tracing up to third generation or F3.
All identified close contacts will undergo RT- PCR testing.
Specimens that tested positive will be reviewed and selected samples that pass the laboratory criteria will undergo the whole genome sequencing at the University of the Philippines- and Philippine Genome Center (UP- PGC), the statement added.
The identified close contact will also undergo strict close quarantine. Further updates will be provided once data from the ongoing investigation will be able.
On Saturday, the Department of Health (DOH), the University of the Philippines-Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC), and the UP-National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH) confirmed the detection of 19 additional COVID-19 cases positive for the B.1.1.7 variant (UK variant). Three of them were from Davao region.
This brings the total B.1.1.7 variant cases in the country to 44.
The 19 additional cases were part of the sixth batch of 718 samples sequenced by the UP-PGC on February 8, 2021.
The sixth batch of samples were sourced from all regions, except BARMM, and were selected to ensure representation of each region as well as areas where spikes in cases have been reported.
Three of the 19 cases have indicated current addresses in Region XI: one 10 year-old male, one 54 year-old female, and one 33 year-old male. All three cases currently do not have any known link to each other. These cases are currently active with mild symptoms.
Six cases are currently being verified if these are local cases or Returning Overseas Filipinos. Case investigation and contact tracing have been initiated to verify reported information and trace possible sources of infection.
100 new cases for
COVID in Region 11
More than 100 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded by the DOH XI in the region as of February 13.
As of 5 p.m., the DOH Davao Center for Health Development reported 107 new cases of COVID-19 in the region, bringing the total number of active cases to 2,563.
Of these new cases, 70 were from Davao City, 27 were from Davao del Norte, 9 wee from Davao Oriental, and one from from Davao de Oro.
There were five deaths reported on Saturday–four were from Davao City and one from Davao del Norte.
There were also 131 recoveries. Among these, 73 were from Davao City, 34 were from Davao del Norte, 18 wee from Davao Oriental, four from Davao del Sur, and two from Davao Occidental.
Of these new cases, one was a locally stranded Individual and 106 were local cases. A total of 1,242 persons were tested, of which 107 tested positive.
