MANILA, Philippines (Updated 1:14 p.m.) — The Philippines reported Tuesday its first two cases of the COVID-19 variant first found in India, which has been classified as being “of concern” by the World Health Organization. Two returning overseas Filipinos tested positive for the B.1.617 variant, the Department of Health said in a briefing. “They did not come from India nor passed through India,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said. India is suffering from a devastating COVID-19 surge, which has overwhelmed the country’s healthcare system. The Philippines has hundreds of cases of the P.3 variant, or the one first detected in the country.

Source: Philippine Star May 11, 2021 03:39 UTC