Palace ‘intently monitoring’ new Covid-19 strain from South Africa

By Prince Golez

Malacañang assured the public on Friday that the government is “intently monitoring” the emergence of the new B.1.1.529 Covid variant detected in South Africa.

Both the Department of Health and the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases are “aware” of the concerning rise of the new strain, according to acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles.

“The DOH is aware. The IATF is also aware. We are intently monitoring the situation. Patuloy pa rin ating ginagawang genomic surveillance on the ground at patuloy rin yung pakikipag-ugnayan natin sa WHO (World Health Organization),” Nograles said in a virtual presser.

“We are in constant communication with WHO and monitoring developments on their front, especially awaiting their advice kung ito bang variant na ito is considered a variant of interest or a variant of concern,” he added.

On Thursday, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases of South Africa confirmed 22 new Covid-19 strain cases. The variant has also been found in Botswana and Hong Kong.

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Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)