Case of new COVID-19 variant detected in HK is a Filipina from Cagayan Valley — DOH

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday (January 6) released additional information about the carrier of a new COVID-19 variant detected in Hong Kong.
According to a report provided by the Hong Kong International Health Regulations National Focal Point in collaboration with the country’s Center for Health Development, the case is a 30-year-old Filipino from Cagayan Valley.
The report said the Filipina left the region on December 17, 2020 and upon arrival in Metro Manila on December 18, underwent quarantine as per workplace protocol. The following day she was tested using RT-PCR which yielded negative result.
She left for Hong Kong on December 22 and underwent quarantine after arrival. After 10 days on January 2, she underwent RT-PCR testing again which tested positive and detected with the new COVID-19 variant from the UK.
Hong Kong authorities said she remains in isolation and in stable condition.
Contact tracing is underway here in the Philippines, the DOH said, as the flight manifest has been obtained while the agency is awaiting the result of contact tracing being done by their counterparts in Hong Kong.
“There is also ongoing contact tracing by the concerned epidemiology and surveillance units in Cagayan Valley Region and NCR,” the DOH concluded.
