Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire said at least 78% or 125 co-passengers of the 29-year-old male Filipino who tested positive for the more transmissible UK variant of the coronavirus are already in isolation and are waiting for COVID-19 test results.

Vergeire made the announcement two days after the detection of the UK variant of the coronavirus in the Philippines.

“We already contacted 146 of them [close contacts] at 125 po roon ang nagkaroon na tayo ng positive action. Nasa quarantine facilities na po sila, iyong iba naka-home quarantine kasi nakapag-comply naman po sa requirements [of being isolated in a room equipped with a restroom],” Vergeire said.

Vergeire also said the Filipino who was infected with the UK variant of coronavirus, an infection detected on him after a return trip to the Philippines from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with his girlfriend on a business trip, were on board a flight with 159 other passengers.