Philippines reports more cases with Indian Covid variant

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Manila, May 15 (IANS) More cases of the coronavirus variant first detected in India have been found in the Philippines, which led to the government to extend a ban on travellers coming from countries where the strain was found in recent days, officials said on Saturday.

The Department of Health said 10 more patients were found to have the B.1.617 strain of Covid-19, bringing to 12 the total number of cases of the more contagious Indian variant in the country, reports dpa news agency.

Nine of the patients were crew members of the cargo ship MV Athens Bridge, which docked in Manila last week to seek medical help for two crew who were in critical condition.

The 10th case was a seafarer who returned home from Belgium via the United Arabs Emirates (UAE) in April, the department added in a statement.

In a bid to contain the entry of the Indian variant, travellers from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are not allowed to enter the Philippines until May 31, said Jaime Morente, the bureau's chief commissioner.

The entry ban was also extended to the countries of Oman and the UAE starting Saturday, he added.

The ban was first implemented on April 29 for travellers from India or those who had recently travelled to the South Asian country.

The extension of the ban was imposed after the B.1.617 variant was detected in two overseas Filipino workers who returned to the country in April.

The two patients - a 37-year-old male and a 58-year-old male - have already recovered and had no close contact with family or community members because they were quarantined on arrival, the epartment said.

Three passengers on the 58-year-old patient's flight have tested positive for Covid-19 but have already recovered, said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.

None of the three have a variant of concern, she added.

The Philippines' total Covid-19 caseload stood at 1,138,187 on Saturday, after the health department reported 6,739 additional cases. The death toll was up by 93 to 19,051.

Despite thousands of cases reported daily, the government eased restrictions in the capital region of Metro Manila and four surrounding provinces in a bid to boost the country's economy, which has contracted for the fifth straight quarter since last year.

Seating capacities were increased for indoor dining at restaurants, outdoor tourist attractions can resume at 30 per cent capacity, and specialized domestic tours can take place again from Saturday.

--IANS

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