MANILA – The Philippines is strengthening its contact-tracing efforts to curb the spread of a new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) variant.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the move came after the Department of Health (DOH) announced the detection of the first case of the variant in the country.
“Contact tracing protocols shall be strengthened by expanding to third-generation contacts for known new variant cases,” said Roque 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 added.
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has directed the interior department to ensure that local governments are using the Stay Safe contact-tracing system, said Roque.
Those who will be tested positive for the novel coronavirus are required to undergo whole genome sequencing, the Palace spokesperson added.
Genome or gene sequencing is a process that allows scientists to see how a virus mutated based on samples from COVID-19 positive patients.
The DOH on Wednesday announced that the first case of new COVID-19 variant in the country was a 27-year-old real estate broker from Quezon City. He arrived from Dubai, United Arab Emirates last Jan. 7.
The health department is looking for passengers who were on the same flight taken by the Filipino./PN
