Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 20) —The Department of Health does not rule out the possibility that the presence of the two new mutations of the virus detected in Cebu may have caused the spike in COVID-19 cases in the province, an official said Saturday.

In a virtual briefing, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the mutations may be a “factor” in the rising cases of COVID-19 cases in the Central Visayas Region.

The latest data from OCTA Research Team showed earlier this week that areas in Cebu continue to experience a post-holiday surge in COVID-19 cases. Cebu City alone had been recording over 200 new cases per day from February 10 to 16.

“As to the increase in the number of cases in Cebu, most probably it’s a factor itong pag-detect natin ng (the detection of) variants because we know these variants [have] higher transmissibility,” the DOH official said.

The DOH on Thursday night reported the detection of two new COVID-19 mutations identified as E484K and N501Y in Cebu, which came from the first batch of samples they sent to the Philippine Genome Center for genomic sequencing. The batch covers the period January 30 to February 2 and contained samples from Cebu City, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, and Cebu province, the DOH added.

READ: DOH confirms new COVID-19 mutations in Central Visayas

However, Vergeire said that easing quarantine controls in the region may have also caused the spike.

“They have eased their restrictions. That might be a factor as well,” she said.

The entire island of Cebu remains under the modified general community quarantine despite witnessing an increase in new cases.