MANILA – A health official confirmed on Monday the detection of a third case of the Omicron (B.1.1.529) coronavirus variant in the country.
According to Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire in an online media forum, the case is a 36-year-old returning overseas Filipino (ROF) who initially tested negative for Covid-19 on December 19 after a repeat test.
On November 28, he arrived at Mactan-Cebu International Airport from Qatar. On December 4, a sample was collected from him, and the result was positive on December 5.
“The case completed his isolation in Cebu before traveling back to Cavite, his hometown, where he immediately self quarantined upon arrival. The case is currently finishing his home quarantine in Cavite and has remained asymptomatic since his arrival,” Vergeire said.
Vergeire stated that the DOH is in the process of finding possible close contacts of the case among his co-passengers.
It’s also validating the test results and health status of all passengers on flights taken by confirmed patients.
The first two imported cases of the Omicron variant were reported on December 15 by the Department of Health.
An ROF who arrived from Japan on December 1 through Philippine Airlines flight number PR 0427 is one of the cases.
Another case is a Nigerian who arrived on November 30 via Oman Air flight WY 843.
On December 16, the DOH stated that the cases remain isolated and under close observation, with seven close contacts identified.
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