Philippines expands contact-tracing efforts to combat new COVID-19 variant | ABS-CBN
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Philippines expands contact-tracing efforts to combat new COVID-19 variant
Philippines expands contact-tracing efforts to combat new COVID-19 variant
Jamaine Punzalan,
ABS-CBN News
Published Jan 15, 2021 12:15 PM PHT

MANILA — The Philippines is boosting its contact-tracing efforts to halt the spread of a new COVID-19 variant which experts warn could be more contagious, Malacañang said on Friday.
MANILA — The Philippines is boosting its contact-tracing efforts to halt the spread of a new COVID-19 variant which experts warn could be more contagious, Malacañang said on Friday.
The health department earlier this week detected the country's first patient with the new COVID-19 variant: a Filipino who had recently returned from Dubai.
The health department earlier this week detected the country's first patient with the new COVID-19 variant: a Filipino who had recently returned from Dubai.
"Contact tracing protocols, on the other hand, shall be strengthened by expanding to third-generation contacts for known new variant cases," said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.
"Contact tracing protocols, on the other hand, shall be strengthened by expanding to third-generation contacts for known new variant cases," said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.
"All identified close contacts are required to undergo a strict facility-based 14-day quarantine while remaining contacts from the flight manifest shall be advised of the appropriate quarantine protocols, he said in a statement.
"All identified close contacts are required to undergo a strict facility-based 14-day quarantine while remaining contacts from the flight manifest shall be advised of the appropriate quarantine protocols, he said in a statement.
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The Department of Health is looking for passengers who were on the same flight taken by the Filipino who contracted the new SARS-CoV-2 variant.
The Department of Health is looking for passengers who were on the same flight taken by the Filipino who contracted the new SARS-CoV-2 variant.
The inter-agency task force leading the country's pandemic response directed the interior department to ensure that local governments are using the Stay Safe contact-tracing system, said Roque.
The inter-agency task force leading the country's pandemic response directed the interior department to ensure that local governments are using the Stay Safe contact-tracing system, said Roque.
Those who test positive for the novel coronavirus are required to undergo whole genome sequencing, he added.
Those who test positive for the novel coronavirus are required to undergo whole genome sequencing, he added.
Genome or gene sequencing is a process that allows scientists to see how a virus has mutated based on samples from COVID-positive patients.
Genome or gene sequencing is a process that allows scientists to see how a virus has mutated based on samples from COVID-positive patients.
The Philippines has banned the entry of travelers from 32 countries until Jan. 31 to halt the spread of the new variant.
The Philippines has banned the entry of travelers from 32 countries until Jan. 31 to halt the spread of the new variant.
Read More:
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