MANILA – Kinumpirma ng Ministry of Health (MOH) ng Singapore na mayroon na silang kumpirmadong kaso ng bagong strain ng SARS-CoV-2 virus, o virus na nagdudulot ng COVID-19.
Batay sa bulletin na nilabas ng Health Ministry kahapon, December 23, lumabas na isa mula sa 31 imported cases na kanilang naitala mula Europe ang carrier ng bagong strain o variant na tinatawag na “B117”.
“A total of 31 imported cases from Europe, who arrived in Singapore between 17 November and 17 December 2020, were confirmed to have COVID-19 infection in December 2020. Amongst them, 12 were not infected with the B117 strain, and 1 (Case 58504) has been found to carry the B117 strain,” ayon sa report.
Isang 17-anyos na babaeng Singaporean, na nag-aaral sa United Kingdom mula noong Agosto at umuwi ng Singapore noong December 6 ang sinasabing carrier ng bagong strain ng sakit.
Noong December 8 nang mag-positibo raw ito sa COVID-19, matapos mag-develop ng sintomas pagdating ng Singapore. Agad naman daw na-quarantine ang kanyang close contacts, na natukoy na negative sa coronavirus disease.
Hinihintay pa ng Ministry of Health ang confirmatory results ng 11 iba pang COVID-19 cases na preliminary positive sa B117 strain. Ang kanilang National Public Health Laboratory ang abala ngayon sa viral genome sequencing o pagtukoy sa identity ng virus ng mga confirmed cases na galing Europe.
“5 samples cannot be sequenced due to their low viral load, and we are pending confirmatory results for another 11 cases who are preliminarily positive for the B117 strain. 2 cases have not been tested so far.”
Nilinaw naman ng ahensya na wala pang kumakalat na B117 strain sa kanilang komunidad. Pero naghigpit na ang kanilang pamahalaan sa mga biyaherong papasok ng Singapore, na galing sa UK.
“All the cases had been placed on 14-day SHN at dedicated facilities or isolated upon arrival in Singapore, and their close contacts had been quarantined earlier.”
“The Multi-Ministry Taskforce announced yesterday that from 23 December 2020, 2359 hours, all long-term pass holders and short-term visitors with recent travel history to the UK within the last 14 days will not be allowed entry into Singapore, or transit through Singapore. Returning SCs and PRs will be required to undergo a COVID-19 PCR test upon arrival in Singapore, at the start of their 14-day SHN.”
Una nang sinabi ng Department of Health ng Pilipinas na wala pang namo-monitor ang RITM na bagong strain ng COVID-19 mula sa mga confirmed cases dito sa Pilipinas.
Ngayong araw, nagsimula na ang temporary travel ban sa mga inbound flights mula United Kingdom.
Ayon sa British health experts, bagamat walang ebidensya na mas nakamamatay ang bagong mutation o anyo ng SARS-CoV-2 virus, ay mas transmissible o mas nakakahawa ito kumpara sa kumakalat na strain ng naturang COVID-19 virus.
