Department of Health (DOH) and treatment czar Dr. Leopoldo Vega wants the government to slow down in lowering the lockdown status of Metro Manila due to the now reported more dangerous and contagious variants of COVID-19.
“Wala pa tayo sa out of the woods. Hindi pa tayo nakakalabas kasi gradual decrease natin kasi dahan dahan pang bumababa. At saka may variant of concern, ‘yung sinasabi nilang Delta variant,” said Vega.
Metro Manila and Bulacan are currently in general community quarantine with restrictions. The lowest status is the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).
The government should not be caught off guard despite his assurance that such a variant has not yet spread in the ‘local setting.’
This proves that the country already has 17 cases of Delta variants, most of which are travelers and newcomers to the Philippines.
Despite the drop in cases in the National Capital Region (NCR) in recent weeks, there is a surge in some areas in the Visayas and Mindanao.
Slow down on easing lockdown in Metro Manila: DOH
In the first OCTA Research report, the cities of Davao, Bacolod, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, and Tacloban saw a significant increase in cases. While in Metro Manila, the average number of cases per day dropped by 700 from June 15-21.
According to infectious disease specialist Dr. Rontgene Solante, in addition to the current mutation of the Delta variant, there have been more mutations, so there has been a “Delta plus.”
“This third type of mutation not only increase the transmissibility of the Delta variant but also has the potential to reduce some of the vaccines that we have, but we have to wait for the additional report on this third mutation,” said Solante.
So far, more than 80 countries have recorded Delta variant cases. At least 10 countries have Delta plus cases.
The Delta variant is the reason for the collapse of India’s health care system and is seen as a more prevalent variant today in some countries.
Solante explained that this is due to mutations that strengthen the attachment of the virus to the cells in our airways.
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