The Department of Health (DOH) Saturday reported the presence of a new variant of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) first detected in the Philippines.

In a statement, the DOH reported that the Phylogenetic Assignment of Named Global Outbreak Lineages (Pangolin) has identified a new COVID-19 variant tagged as the P.3 variant.

“The said samples with these mutations have been reassigned to the P.3 variant, belonging to the B.1.1.28 lineage, to which the P.1 variant also belongs,” said the DOH.

It explained that the variant are the ones,  numbering to 85 cases, previously found to have unique set of mutations, including both E484K and N501Y mutations.

Thirteen additional cases were detected in the latest batch of genome sequencing.

“This brings the total P.3 variant cases in the country to 98,” said the DOH.

“The P.3 is not identified as a variant of concern as current available data are insufficient to conclude whether the variant will have significant public health implications,” said the DOH.

The DOH reported one case found positive for the P.1 variant or the so-called Brazilian “variant of concern”.

It said the lone patient was found to be a returning overseas Filipino (ROF) from Brazil and hails from Western Visayas.

“Additional information about the case is currently being investigated,” said the DOH.

Last Wednesday, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said one COVID-19 case in the city was found to have the Brazil variant.

The DOH clarified that what was detected in Quezon City was of the Brazilian origin (B.1.1.28) but is not the “variant of concern”.

The DOH also said an additional 59 B.1.1.7 variant (UK variant) cases were detected by the Philippine Genome Center.

The additional cases bring the total number of B.1.1.7 cases in the country to 177.

The DOH said an additional 32 B.1.351 variant (South Africa variant) cases have also been detected.

The additional cases bring the total number of B.1.351 cases to 90. DMS