THE Health department announced that three travelers who arrived in the Philippines from South Africa, Burkina Faso, and Egypt have tested positive for COVID-19.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said 253 travelers from South Africa, three from Burkina Faso, and 541 from Egypt arrived in the country from November 15 to November 29.
“Each of these countries nagkaroon ng travelers who tested positive for COVID-19. Mayroong isa out of 253 from South Africa, isa out of 541 from Egypt, at isa out of three from Burkina Faso,” Vergeire said.
“So lahat po ng nag positive na ‘yan as long as CT values are appropriate, ipapadala po natin sa Philippine Genome Center for whole-genome sequencing,” she added.
Vergeire said the DOH is still processing the batch that will be subject to genome sequencing for the week.
“Results might be tonight or tomorrow,” she said.
The B.1.1.529 or the Omicron variant was first announced by South Africa on November 24 and was blamed for the increase in cases in the region.
At present, the Philippines has imposed restrictions on South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, and Italy.
