The Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed Monday that the Philippines’ first Lambda variant patient is detected as a local case and not a Returning Overseas Filipino (ROF).
On Sunday, the Department of Health (DOH) together with the University of the Philippines – Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC) and the University of the Philippines – National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH) have reported the first case of Lambda variant in the country.
The Lambda variant, which was initially detected in Peru last August 2020, has been observed with a 35-year-old female who was asymptomatic and has undergone the 10-day isolation period which boosted her fast recovery.
According to DOH Undersecretary and spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire, healthcare workers had to sustain a close monitoring for the patient due to her pregnancy.
“Itong ating kababayan nung nagkaroon ito ay wala siyang sintomas pero siya ay kailangan i-monitor nang maigi dahil buntis po siya,” Vergeire explained.
(This Filipino [who tested positive for Lambda CoVid-19] experienced no symptoms but she had to be monitored carefully because she was pregnant.)
Vergeire said that the DOH is currently coordinating with the hospital where the patient was admitted to confirm her date of delivery which will be in late July.
The Undersecretary added that the agency continues to collect samples for whole genome sequencing and trace back probable individuals considered close contacts of the patient.
According to Vergeire, the Lambda variant does not transmit faster compared to the Delta variant but is still a potential threat.
When asked if COVID-19 vaccines has a resistance and will not be effective against the Lambda variant, the Undersecretary said that there is no enough basis to prove such claim.
“All our vaccines are still effective in variants of concern,” Vergeire asserted.