DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, June 23 (PIA) -- Negros Oriental recorded its first local cases of the Alpha and Theta variants of COVID-19. 

The Alpha Variant, also known as the UK variant, was recorded in Tanjay City while the Theta or the P.3 Philippine variant was logged in Dumaguete City. 

Assistant Provincial Health Officer and Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Incident Ground Commander Dr. Liland Estacion, in her virtual press conference on June 23, said the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) is still gathering additional details on the said COVID-19 patients. 

She said the patient with Theta variant has already recovered from the disease. 

IPHO has directed the city health offices in Tanjay City and Dumaguete City for a thorough contact tracing involving 1st generation to 3rd generation contacts. 

“The LGU concerned should do massive contact tracing up to the 3rd generation,” Estacion said. 

The assistant provincial health officer said this is the first time the Alpha variant was recorded in the province.

The Theta variant, on the other hand, was earlier detected in some Overseas Filipino Workers and Returning Overseas Filipinos who arrived in Negros Oriental. 

Estacion said the new variants are highly transmissible but the public can still avoid contracting it by following the prescribed health protocols. 

“Kung kita nag-practice lang sa minimum health protocols, so less gyud ang tendency na kita matakdan (There is a lesser tendency to get the virus if we practice the minimum health protocols),” Estacion said. (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental)