Bohol records at least 6 cases of new COVID-19 variants

People of Bohol continue to follow the health protocols as the more transmissible COVID-19 variants are detected in the province. (Leo Udtohan/Inquirer Visayas)

TAGBILARAN CITY – The province of Bohol has recorded six cases of the more transmissible variants of the coronavirus.

In a post on his Facebook page on Friday, Gov. Arthur Yap said Bohol has at least six COVID-19 variants: three Alpha variants (B.1.1.7) that were first found in the United Kingdom; one Beta variant (B.1.351) from South Africa; and two Theta (P.3) variants that were discovered in Central Visayas.

Yap, however, did not reveal how the Bohol residents were infected.

He said he would not allow home isolation for the COVID-19 patients.

Yap added that close contacts of those infected will be tested for COVID-19, even those who show no symptoms.

The World Health Organization said the new variants are highly transmissible but the public can still avoid it by following the health protocols.

As of Friday, July 9, Bohol has recorded 166 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections to 7,749. It has 1,212 active cases, 6,452 recoveries, and 85 deaths.

The province has so far received 142,830 doses of Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Sputnik, and Pfizer vaccines.

At least 102,511 residents have been fully vaccinated, according to the Bohol Inter-Agency Task Force.

/MUF