TWO “variants of concern” have been detected from COVID-19 patients in Cebu, according to the Department of Health-Central Visayas.
In a virtual press briefing, DOH-Central Visayas spokesperson Dr. Mary Jean Loreche said the two mutations have been detected in 50 samples sent to the Philippine Genome Center coming from different parts of the province.
“There are two mutations of concern that were found in 37 out of 50 samples… 29 out of these 50 had co-occurrence of these 2 mutations,” Loreche said, adding the two variants were given identifying tags as “E484K” and “N501Y.”
“These are now what we call a ‘variant of concern.’ There is no name yet. They have not identified the entire sequence,” she said.
There are currently three variants of the deadly virus — the UK, South African and Brazilian variants.
“Whether these are going to be more virulent, or cause a more severe disease, or to be more pathogenic, we have to wait first,” Loreche said.
The DOH central office has yet to issue a statement.
In its latest monitoring report, the OCTA Research Team said the COVID-19 surge in Cebu City persists with over 200 cases per day.
“Over the past week (February 10 to 16, 2021), Cebu City had the most number of new cases per day with an average of 202, which is an increase of 62% from 124 in the previous week,” OCTA said.
Another cause for concern in Cebu City is the daily attack rate of 16.6 per 100,000, which is higher than the 7 per 100,000 standard and the positivity rate in Cebu City that increased to 13 percent.
Other cities in Cebu province also showed spikes in cases, particularly in Lapu Lapu, Mandaue, and Talisay. The report showed that Lapu Lapu City saw an increase in case average from 27 to 37 this week.
Its positivity rate is presently at 11 percent while hospital occupancy has exceeded the 70 percent critical level with 71 percent.
Mandaue City saw an increase in average cases from 24 to 35 this week and has a daily attack rate of 7.48 per 100,000 while its positivity rate is at 18 percent.
Talisay City also saw an increase in its average cases from 14 to 21 this week.
Ninety-six more patients succumbed to the deadly virus while 1,744 new cases were reported by the DOH, raising the number of infections in the country to 555,163.
Overall, the number of fatalities rose to 11,673 for a 2.10 case fatality rate.
There were 412 new recoveries, meaning the number of survivors has risen to 512,375.
But there remained 31,115 active cases, of which 85.6 percent are mild cases, 8.6 percent asymptomatic cases, 2.5 percent critical cases, 2.5 percent severe cases, and 0.78 percent moderate cases.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said 80 more overseas Filipinos were infected with the deadly virus, raising the tally to 14,759, with 9,273 having recovered.
Nine more died, raising the number of fatalities to 988. — With Ashzel Hachero
