Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 12) — The Department of Health reported 19 new infections of the more contagious COVID-19 variant first detected in the United Kingdom, raising the total number of cases of this variant in the Philippines to 44.
Three of the patients were from Davao Region — a 10-year-old boy, a 54-year-old female, and a 33-year-old male. They do not have any known link to each other, the DOH noted, and are currently ill with mild symptoms.
Two cases were found in CALABARZON: a 20-year-old female who has since gotten better, and a 76-year-old female who was exposed to a sick patient in January. She is currently experiencing mild symptoms.
Meanwhile, eight of the infected patients — four males and four females with ages between 28 and 53 — were returning overseas Filipinos. Two have recovered while six are in isolation facilities. As for the last six patients, the DOH said it is still verifying if they are local cases or returning overseas Filipinos as well.
