COVID-19 variants infect 6 more in Ilocos Norte

An illustration of SARS-CoV-2, courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (AFP/ Handout/ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

LAOAG CITY––At least six more residents in Ilocos Norte province had been infected with the more contagious variants of SARS Cov2, the virus that causes COVID-19, officials said.

They are among the 12 patients in the province who contracted the Alpha variant (B.1.1.7) and Beta variant (B.1.351) since April, said Dr. Rheuel Bobis, COVID-19 focal person of the Department of Health in Ilocos, in a briefing early this week.

B.1.1.7 originated from the United Kingdom, while B.1.351 was traced to South Africa.

Bobis said the potential consequences of the emerging variants involve the faster spread of COVID-19 in people and milder or more severe cases.

Despite a higher transmissibility rate of the new COVID-19 variants, Bobis said there is “no definitive indication that these mutations are increasing the infectivity, severity, or pathogenicity of the virus [in] influencing vaccine [efficacy].”

Data also showed that the number of active COVID-19 cases in Ilocos Norte had reached 700 after 41 new infections were recorded Thursday, July 1.

In its latest bulletin, the provincial government said at least 33 patients had also recovered from the viral disease, while three residents succumbed to COVID-19 complications.

To date, the province has logged around 3,776 total COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began last year, of which at least 3,009 had recovered while 67 had died.

Dr. Rogelio Balbag, Ilocos Norte health consultant, reported that the province had received 62,772 doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

Balbag said 82 percent of the vaccines delivered were inoculated to the A1, A2, and A3 priority groups. INQ

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