DOH: PH’s first COVID-19 Lambda variant infection a local case | Inquirer News

DOH: PH’s first COVID-19 Lambda variant infection a local case

/ 09:12 AM August 16, 2021

An illustration, created at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), depicts the 2019 Novel Coronavirus

(REUTERS)

MANILA, Philippines — The first infection of the Lambda variant of COVID-19 in the country was a local case—with the patient pregnant at the time of testing positive for the virus, the Department of Health (DOH) said Monday.

DOH Undersecretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire said that the 35-year-old woman, who was earlier reported as the first case of Lambda variant in the country is a local case and not a returning overseas Filipino.

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“Base sa aming datos, the patient is a local case, hindi siya returning overseas Filipino,” Vergeire said in an interview on ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo.

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She was also pregnant when she tested positive for COVID-19 in July and has since recovered.

The DOH is now verifying if she has given birth since her expected delivery date is end of July.

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“Itong ating kababayan na nagkaroon nito, wala siyang sintomas. Pero siya ay kailangan i-monitor nang maigi dahil buntis po siya,” Vergeire said.

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“Kami ay nakipag-panayam kahapon sa ospital kung siya ay nakapag-deliver na ng baby niya,” she added.

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Vergeire said contact tracing started as soon as the woman tested positive for COVID-19.

It will continue especially after it was detected that the woman was hit by the Lambda variant, said the DOH official.

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“Ang Lambda variant is a variant of interest, hindi pa siya kina-classify ng [World Health Organization] as a variant of concern,” Vergeire said.

“Ibig sabihin, hindi ho pa significant para doon sa classification ng variant na ito to affect the population,” she added.

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The Lambda variant was first detected in Peru in December 2020. It was classified as a “variant of interest” on June 14.

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For more news about the novel coronavirus click here.
What you need to know about Coronavirus.
For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH Hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.

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TAGS: COVID-19, DoH

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