More than half found in Metro Manila
AN additional 177 cases of the highly transmissible Delta variant of COVID-19 have been detected in the Philippines, bringing the total 627, the Department of Health said yesterday.
The DOH said of the 177 new Delta variant (B.1.617.2) cases detected by the Philippine Genome Center, 144 are local cases, three are from returning overseas Filipinos (ROF), and 30 cases are “being verified if these are local or ROF cases.”
Of the 144 local cases, 90 cases had addresses in the National Capital Region, while 25 are from the Calabarzon region, 16 in Cagayan Valley region, eight in Ilocos Region, two each in the Cordillera Administrative Region and Western Visayas region, and one in the Davao region.
A total of 173 cases were tagged as recovered, one has died, and three cases are with outcomes that are being verified.
The Delta variant, which was found in India last December, has spread to almost all countries in the world and has become the most dominant strain, causing waves and surges globally. It was found to be twice as contagious as the original coronavirus and as much as 60 percent more contagious than the Alpha variant.
The DOH reported the detection of other variant cases — 102 Alpha (B.1.1.7), 59 Beta (B.1.351), and 14 P.3.
Of the 102 Alpha, 94 were local cases and eight are under verification. One case remains active while 101 cases have been tagged as recovered.
This brings the total Alpha variant cases to 2,195.
Of the additional 59 Beta variant cases, 53 are local cases, and six are being verified.One case remains active, 57 have been tagged as recovered, while one case has an outcome which is being verified.
The total Beta variant cases is now 2,421.
For the 14 additional P.3 variant cases, 13 are local and one case is currently being verified if this is a local or ROF case.
Based on the case line list, two cases have died while 12 have been tagged as recovered.
There are now 301 P.3 variant cases.
With more Delta variant cases being detected, the DOH appealed to the public anew to help prevent the transmission of COVID-19 in the communities.
“The DOH appeals to our kababayan to immediately isolate upon experiencing symptoms, adhere to isolation and quarantine protocols, and to follow minimum public health standards in all settings,” said the DOH.
