#Philippine Genome Center (PCG)

[phgq]

No dominant coronavirus variant in PH: expert

#PHnews: No dominant coronavirus variant in PH: expert

MANILA – None of the emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants is dominant in the Philippines yet, an official of the Philippine Genome Center said Thursday.

"Ang mga variants of concern ay hindi pa dominant sa bansa, hindi pa po dominant (The existing variants of concern are not yet dominant in the country)," said PCG Health Program director, Dr. Eva Cutiongco-dela Paz, in a Laging Handa briefing.

As of March 5, the country has logged about 118 cases infected with the B.1.1.7 or the UK variant and 58 with B.1.351 or the South African variant.

From over 3,000 genome sequences conducted since January this year, Cutiongco-dela Paz said the "most frequently observed" was not a variant but a lineage called B.1.1.63 or the Hong Kong lineage, comprising about 24 percent of the total samples it collected.

She, however, said it is inconclusive yet whether this is attributable to the continuing spike of Covid-19 cases in the country.

"Kailangan pang mas pag-aralan ang mga bagay na ito at makapag-sequence pa ng mga virus sa samples na galing sa mga lugar na may spike or clustering of cases sa iba't ibang parte ng bansa (We still need to study this further and sequence more virus from samples coming from areas with clustering of cases)," she said.

Despite the emergence of the two variants, the PGC has not detected a Brazilian P.1 variant yet, she added.

"Wala pa ito sa bansa, ang Brazil lineage po ang mayroon tayo. Magkaiba po ang lineage sa variant (We don't have this in the country yet, the one we've detected is the Brazil lineage. Lineage is different from a variant)," she said.

As cases continue to rise, she advised the public to continue following the minimum health protocols set by the government to prevent the virus from further spreading and mutating.

"Kapag pinababa natin ang mga kaso, bababa rin ang tsansa ng virus na mag-mutate (Once we lower the number of cases, the chances of the virus mutating also decreases)," she said.

Recent data shows a significant increase in the number of Covid-19 cases particularly in the National Capital Region.

As of March 10, the Department of Health has recorded 2,886 new cases, higher than the previous day's 2,668 new infections. (PNA)

***

References:

* Philippine News Agency. " No dominant coronavirus variant in PH: expert." Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1133281 (accessed March 11, 2021 at 10:50PM UTC+14).

* Philippine News Agency. " No dominant coronavirus variant in PH: expert." Archive Today. https://archive.ph/?run=1&url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1133281 (archived).

[phgq]

Gov't assures swift handling of returning overseas Filipinos

#PHnews: Gov't assures swift handling of returning overseas Filipinos

MANILA – The government is keeping its guard up against the entry of the new coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) variant as it assured swift handling of returning overseas Filipinos.

This, after the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Wednesday began the implementation of entry restrictions approved by Malacañang against travelers from countries with the new variant of the dreaded disease.

The DOTr, through the Civil Aviation Board (CAB), issued an advisory restricting the entry of travelers, except Filipino citizens, from 20 countries based on a memorandum issued by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Tuesday.

“The Palace-approved additional measures include the extension of the temporary suspension of flights, and the prohibition of entry of all travelers coming from or transiting through the United Kingdom until 15 January 2021, except for Filipino citizens,” the DOTr said.

Travelers — both in air and maritime transport — coming from or transiting through the 19 other countries with reported cases of the new Covid-19 variant—or those who have been to these countries within 14 days of arrival in the Philippines—are prohibited from entering the country at exactly one-minute past midnight on Wednesday.

The policy, also effective until Jan. 15, 2021, applies to travelers from Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Netherlands, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Travelers from these 20 countries who were already in transit and arrived in the Philippines before Wednesday midnight—including those who have been to these countries within 14 days of their arrival in the Philippines — are not prohibited from entering the country but are required to undergo an “absolute facility-based” 14-day quarantine even with a negative RT-PCR test result.

The same also applies to Filipinos coming from these countries to help ensure that the new Covid-19 variant does not spread in the Philippines.

“Seafarers who fall under this classification are only allowed to disembark in the Port of Manila, and shall be transported by their shipping agents to the designated quarantine facility via Point-to-Point (P2P) under strict monitoring of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG),” the DOTr said.

Filipino seafarers will undergo their mandatory quarantine at facilities assigned by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and at the Athlete’s Village in New Clark City at the expense of the government.

Meanwhile, foreign seafarers shall be quarantined in Department of Tourism (DOT)-assigned facilities for 14 days.

Based on the joint recommendation of the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Office of the President may impose similar restrictions on travelers coming from other countries that report the presence of the new Covid-19 variant.

Meanwhile, outbound travel to countries with the new Covid-19 variant remains subject to existing exit protocols of the Philippines and the entry protocols of the destination country.

To help ensure detection and develop the country’s defenses against the new Covid-19 variant, all laboratories that process travelers from these 20 infected countries are directed to submit their specimens to the Philippine Genome Center, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), and the University of the Philippines-National Institute of Health for genome sequencing.

“The RITM is also directed to develop a Standard Operating Procedure/Response Protocol for reports of new variants and strains of SARS-CoV-2,” the DOTr said.

To ensure the completion of the 14-day quarantine of travelers from countries with the new strain, the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) and the OWWA were directed to ensure strict adherence to quarantine and testing protocols and provide a line list to local government units (LGU).

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) was also directed to ensure that all other inbound international travelers — even those not covered by the restriction —strictly finish a 14-day quarantine based on existing quarantine protocols of the national government such as home quarantine. (PR)

  ***

References:

* Philippine News Agency. "Gov't assures swift handling of returning overseas Filipinos." Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1126034 (accessed December 31, 2020 at 10:42AM UTC+14).

* Philippine News Agency. "Gov't assures swift handling of returning overseas Filipinos." Archive Today. https://archive.ph/?run=1&url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1126034 (archived).

[phgq]

Govt keeps guard up against new COVID strain in PH entry points

#PHinfo: Govt keeps guard up against new COVID strain in PH entry points

Philippine News Agency photo of an airport terminal in the Philippines.

QUEZON CITY, Dec. 31 (PIA) -- The government today assured the public that it is keeping its guard up against the entry of the new COVID-19 variant as it also guaranteed swift and efficient handling of returning overseas Filipinos.

This, after the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Wednesday, Dec. 30, began the implementation of entry restrictions approved by Malacañang against travelers from countries with the new variant of the dreaded coronavirus disease.

The DOTr, through the Civil Aviation Board (CAB), issued an advisory restricting the entry of travelers, except Filipino citizens, from 20 countries based on a memorandum issued by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Tuesday.

“The Palace-approved additional measures include the extension of the temporary suspension of flights, and the prohibition of entry of all travelers coming from or transiting through the United Kingdom until 15 January 2021, except for Filipino citizens,” the DOTr said.

Travelers, both in air and maritime transport, coming from or transiting through the 19 other countries with reported cases of the new COVID-19 variant, or those who have been to these countries within 14 days of arrival in the Philippines, are prohibited from entering the country at exactly one-minute past midnight on Wednesday.

The policy, also effective until Jan. 15, 2021, applies to travelers from Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Netherlands, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Travelers from these 20 countries who were already in transit and arrived in the Philippines before Wednesday midnight—including those who have been to these countries within 14 days of their arrival in the Philippines — are not prohibited from entering the country but are required to undergo an “absolute facility-based” 14-day quarantine even with a negative RT-PCR test result.

The same also applies to Filipinos coming from these countries to help ensure that the new COVID-19 variant does not spread in the Philippines.

“Seafarers who fall under this classification are only allowed to disembark in the Port of Manila, and shall be transported by their shipping agents to the designated quarantine facility via Point-to-Point (P2P) under strict monitoring of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG),” the DOTr said.

Filipino seafarers will undergo their mandatory quarantine at facilities assigned by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and at the Athlete’s Village in New Clark City at the expense of the government.

Meanwhile, foreign seafarers shall be quarantined in Department of Tourism (DOT)-assigned facilities for 14 days.

Based on the joint recommendation of the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Office of the President may impose similar restrictions on travelers coming from other countries that report the presence of the new COVID-19 variant.

Meanwhile, outbound travel to countries with the new COVID-19 variant remains subject to existing exit protocols of the Philippines and the entry protocols of the destination country.

To help ensure detection and develop the country’s defenses against the new COVID-19 variant, all laboratories that process travelers from these 20 infected countries are directed to submit their specimens to the Philippine Genome Center, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), and the University of the Philippines-National Institute of Health for genome sequencing.

“The RITM is also directed to develop a Standard Operating Procedure/Response Protocol for reports of new variants and strains of SARS-CoV-2,” the DOTr said.

To ensure the completion of the 14-day quarantine of travelers from countries with the new strain, the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) and the OWWA were directed to ensure strict adherence to quarantine and testing protocols and provide a line list to local government units (LGU).

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) was also directed to ensure that all other inbound international travelers — even those not covered by the restriction —strictly finish a 14-day quarantine based on existing quarantine protocols of the national government such as home quarantine. (PIA NCR)

***

References:

* Philippine Information Agency. "Govt keeps guard up against new COVID strain in PH entry points." Philippine Information Agency. https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1062806 (accessed December 31, 2020 at 12:36PM UTC+08).

* Philippine Infornation Agency. "Govt keeps guard up against new COVID strain in PH entry points." Archive Today. https://archive.ph/?run=1&url=https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1062806 (archived).

[phgq]

12 gov’t labs, sinalo ang swab testing sa mga OFWs, seafarers matapos huminto ang PRC

#PHinfo: 12 gov’t labs, sinalo ang swab testing sa mga OFWs, seafarers matapos huminto ang PRC

LUNGSOD PASIG, Okt. 27 (PIA) -- May labindalawang (12) government laboratories ang nagtutulong-tulong ngayon upang punan pagsasagawa ng swab o RT-PCR testing para sa mga dumarating na overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) sa Terminals 1, 2 at 3 ng NAIA simula noong Oct 15, matapos huminto sa pagsasagawa nito ang Philippine Red Cross (PRC)

Ayon sa Department of Transportation (DOTr), bagama’t nagdulot ng pansamantalang delay sa pag-release ng mga resulta ang mga unang araw ng biglang paghinto ng Red Cross sa pagsasagawa ng swab test, maayos nang natutugunan sa ngayon ang mga pangagailangan ng mga umuuwing OFWs, dahil sa pagtutulungan, commitment at spirit of volunteerism ng iba’t ibang ahensya ng gobyerno.

Dagdag pa ng DOTr na naiibsan din ang pabigat na malaking gastusin sa pagsasagawa ng swab test dahil libre ito para sa  mga itinuturing na mga bagong bayani.

Sinisiguro din ng pamahalaan na tuluy-tuloy at walang-patid na ang pagsasagawa ng libreng swabbing para sa mga OFWs sa mga airports.

“Wala nang magiging balakid, gaya nang nangyaring insidente, sapagkat gobyerno na ang may hawak ng lahat ng aspeto nito,” pahayag mula sa ahensiya.

Kasalukuyang naglilingkod sa NAIA ang 12 sumusunod na laboratoryo: 1) Lung Center of the Philippines; 2) Philippine Genome Hospital; 3) PNP Crime Laboratory; 4) San Lazaro Hospital 4) Sta Ana Hospital; 5) UP National Institute for Health; 6) Dr. Jose N Reyes Memorial Hospital; 7) Jose B Lingad Memorial Hospital; 8)Las Pinas General Hospital; 9) Ospital ng Imus; 10) Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), 11) Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC); at 12) Central Visayas Molecular Laboratory sa Cebu.

Sa pangunguna ng DOH, ang mga laboratoryong ito ay boluntaryong tumangap ng kani-kanilang quota ng sample na ipo-proseso, ayon sa kanilang kakayahang makapaglabas ng swab test result sa loob ng 48 oras. Walang-atubiling tinanggap ng 12 mga laboratoryong ito ang hamon ng pagproseso sa humigit-kumulang 3,000 samples kada araw.

Sa ngayon, mayroon nang 21,238 OFWs ang natugunan ng mga government laboratory volunteers na agad namang nakauwi sa kani-kanilang mga tahanan sa pamamagitan ng Hatid Probinsya Program ng Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). Ang mga pauwi ng Visayas at Mindanao ay hinatid sa pamamagitan ng chartered flights, at mga taga-Luzon naman ay pinasakay sa mga dedicated buses mula sa PITX.

Isang grupo naman ng mga Information Technology (I.T.) experts ang tumulong sa pamamagitan ng paglikha ng isang Automated System upang gawing paperless at nang mapabilis ang lahat ng yugto sa pagproseso, mula sa pag-fill up ng tinatawag na Case Investigation Forms pagdating ng mga OFWs sa Airport, hanggang sa ma-release ang kanilang test results at mabigyan ng Quarantine Certificates ng BOQ.

Ang mga Philippine Coast Guard medical personnel naman ay patuloy na nagsasagawa ng actual swabbing ng mga samples na dinadala sa iba’t ibang laboratoryo sa pamamagitang ng mga delivery vehicles ng CAAP at PCG. Ang mga swab test samples patungong Cebu ay isinasakay sa mga OWWA Hatid Probinsya flights araw-araw.

Tumutugon naman ang Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) at Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) sa mga personal na problema at iba pang pangangailangan ng mga OFWs.

Sa kabilang banda, ang Department of Tourism (DOT) ang siyang nangangasiwa sa pagtugon sa mga pangangailangan ng mga dumarating na NON OFWs sa mga paliparan. Ang lahat ng ahensya ng pamahalaan ay tulong-tulong na itinataguyod ang One Stop Shop (OSS), na pinangungunahan ng DOTr, sa ilalim ng direktiba ng Task Force for the Management of Returning Filipinos. (PIA-NCR)

***

References:

* Philippine Information Agency. "12 gov’t labs, sinalo ang swab testing sa mga OFWs, seafarers matapos huminto ang PRC." Philippine Information Agency. https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1057184 (accessed October 27, 2020 at 06:23PM UTC+08).

* Philippine Infornation Agency. "12 gov’t labs, sinalo ang swab testing sa mga OFWs, seafarers matapos huminto ang PRC." Archive Today. https://archive.ph/?run=1&url=https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1057184 (archived).