Nearly 100 Delta variant cases have been recorded in the Philippines through the country’s ongoing biosurveillance, according to experts today.
This is after the Department of Health (DOH), University of the Philippines-Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC), and UP National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH) reported their new batch of whole genome sequencing results.
Here are the more infectious variants of COVID-19 added in the country this Thursday:
- Delta variant (97)
- Alpha variant (83)
- Beta variant (127)
This raises the number of Delta variant cases in the Philippines to 216.
The Delta variant is even more contagious than the more contagious Alpha, Beta, and Gamma variants of COVID-19. It is also one of the visible reasons for the sudden increase of its cases in different parts of the world.
Here are the 97 new Delta variant cases reported in the country:
local cases (88)
returning overseas Filipinos (ROF)
for verification (3)
“Of the six ROFs, two were from seafarers of MT Clyde and Barge Claudia, currently anchored off in Albay, and four were from crew members of MV Vega that arrived from Indonesia,” DOH, PGC, and NIH said.
97 new Delta variant cases recorded in PH
“Ninety-four cases have been tagged as recovered, and three were fatalities. The DOH is coordinating with the respective local government units to determine other information, such as exposure and vaccination status.”
The DOH now emphasizes the importance of vaccinating priority groups such as senior citizens (A2) and those with comorbidities (A3), especially since they are at high risk for severe COVID-19 and death.
The business sector and OCTA Research Group have already recommended implementing a two-week lockdown, especially in Metro Manila, due to the sudden increase in COVID-19 cases, something that is suspected to be caused by the Delta variant.
For OCTA Research, more intervention is needed actually to prevent the spread of the Delta variant.
OCTA Research fellow Guido David explained to Teleradyo that the GCQ with heightened restrictions has not been able to stop the increase in COVID-19 cases.
Although it is not that high yet, he said the reproduction number of Metro Manila, which is already 1.35, is disturbing.
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