Department of Health (DOH) (MANILA BULLETIN) Dr. Mary Jane Juanico, DOH-6 chief of the infectious disease cluster, belied claims there may be a new COVID-19 variant in the region after there was a sudden spike of cases for the past three weeks. In particular, local officials in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental province have expressed alarm as it recorded hundreds of new COVID-19 cases on a daily basis. “As of now, there is no evidence that new variants are in Region 6,” Juanico reiterated. In an online press briefing, Juanico pointed out the Philippine Genome Center was not able to detect any new COVID-19 variant from the almost 50 specimens sent from various areas of Western Visayas.