DOH: No new COVID-19 strain targeting young to middle-aged adults

MANILA, Philippines — There is no new strain of the coronavirus that is infecting young to middle-aged adults in the country, the Department of Health (DOH) said Friday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire issued the clarification after a message allegedly from a medical student claimed that there is a new strain of coronavirus which targets persons aged 20 to 49 years old.

“There is no new strain of the virus here in the Philippines. It is very dangerous and irresponsible to say that we now have a different strain here in the country,” she said in an online media forum.

She further said that no age group is “invincible or immune” to the coronavirus though those who are 20 to 49 years old are more prone to getting infected as they are the ones who go out of their homes for work and run errands.

“Our data shows that while all age groups are affected, the age group with the highest number of cases is from 20-49 years old,” Vergeire said.

“It is not because there is a new strain that has been targeting them. It is because they are usually the ones going out of their houses to go to work and do their errands,” she added.

The rise in new COVID-19 cases is also attributed to the country’s opening of the economy which results in the increased mobility of people thus increasing the chances of being infected.

“No age group is invincible or immune to this coronavirus. With the increase in cumulative cases, we should see more cases among all ages,” the Health official said.

Deaths are also prevalent among the older age groups, she clarified, especially those with existing health conditions. This is consistent with the global trend.

“Kailangan pa rin ng sufficient evidence for us to make adequate conclusions and recommendations,” she added.

/MUF