MANILA, Philippines — The University of the Philippines (UP) – Philippine Genome Center (PGC) has clarified that the dreaded Brazil Covid-19 variant of concern — known as the P.1 variant — has not been detected in the country. ADVERTISEMENTSaloma explained that like in the case of the United Kingdom (UK), there have been several variants detected but only one was classified as a variant of concern — the B.1.1.7 variant. “So we have to differentiate this one (P.1) po from the B.1.1.28 […] Actually po ‘yong P.1 na sinasabi nating Brazil variant of concern, kasi merong ibang Brazil variant din, this P.1 […] is anak po siya ng B.1.1.28. Actually this P.1 which we have classified as a Brazil variant of concern — because there are other Brazil variants also — is the offspring of the B.1.1.28. Confusion arose earlier after Quezon City announced that they have detected Covid-19 patients carrying a Brazil variant, which led to assumptions that it was the P.1 variant.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer March 10, 2021 11:48 UTC