LAOAG CITY—-At least six more residents in Ilocos Norte province had been infected with the more contagious variants of SARS Cov2, the virus that causes COVID-19, officials said.
They are among the 12 patients in the province who contracted the Alpha variant (B.1.1.7) and Beta variant (B.1.351) since April, said Dr. Rheuel Bobis, COVID-19 focal person of the Department of Health in Ilocos, in a briefing early this week.
B.1.1.7 originated from the United Kingdom, while B.1.351 was traced to South Africa.
Bobis said the potential consequences of the emerging variants involve the faster spread of COVID-19 in people and milder or more severe cases.
Despite a higher transmi…
Keep on reading: COVID-19 variants infect 6 more in Ilocos Norte