MANILA, May 11 (Reuters) - The Philippines has detected its
first two cases of a coronavirus variant first identified in
India, its health ministry said on Tuesday.
The variant, known as B.1.617, had been confirmed in two
Filipino workers who returned in April from the United Arab
Emirates and Oman, Alethea De Guzman, director of the ministry's
epidemiology bureau, told a news conference, adding they had
been in isolation since coming back.
In a bid to prevent the entry of a variant, the Philippines
has temporarily barred travellers coming from India, Pakistan,
Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh from entering the country.