MANILA, Philippines — A mutated strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus believed to be more infectious than the original variant of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 has been detected in the Philippines. According to the Philippine Genome Center, the G614 strain, along with the original D614 genotype, was detected in a small sample of positive cases from Quezon City. This mutation changes the amino acid at position 614, from D (aspartic acid) to G (glycine) — thus the D614G mutation name. Meaning, the initial D614 is now the G614 variant. Meanwhile, 2,665 people have so far died of the respiratory disease nationwide, nearly seven months since it was first reported in the country.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer August 16, 2020 14:37 UTC