The Department of Health (DOH), University of the Philippines-Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC), and University of the Philippines-National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH) on Sunday reported the detection of additional 266 B.1.1.7 variant cases, 351 B.1.351 variant cases, and 25 P.3 variant cases, all of which cause the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Of the additional 266 B.1.1.7 variant cases, 11 cases are Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROFs), 188 are local cases, and 67 cases are currently being verified if they are local or ROF cases. Based on the case line list, eight cases have died and 204 cases have recovered while 54 cases are still active.

Of the additional 351 B.1.351 variant cases, 15 cases are ROFs, 263 are local cases, and 73 cases are currently being verified if they are local or ROF cases. Based on the case line list, 54 cases are still active, 4 cases have died, and 293 cases have recovered.

Of the 25 additional P.3 variant cases, 2 are ROFs, 21 are local cases, and 2 cases are being verified if they are local or ROF cases. Based on the case line list, 1 case is still active and 24 cases have recovered.

The DOH, UP-PGC, and UP-NIH reiterated that the P.3 variant is not yet identified as a variant of concern since current data is insufficient to determine whether the variant will have significant public health implications.

The DOH continues to reiterate that strict and consistent adherence to the minimum public health standards, increased support for the National Vaccination Program, and continued implementation of prevention, detection, isolation, treatment and reintegration strategies by local government units along with the imposition of immediate localized interventions (such as granular lockdowns) are still keys to mitigating the continued number of increasing cases and the transmission of Covid-19.