TWO months since the country recorded its first locally transmitted case of the Delta variant, the more transmissible lineage of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has now become the most common in the Philippines with another 319 cases reported yesterday.
In a virtual press briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said there are now a total of 3,027 Delta variant cases detected by the Philippine Genome Center (PGC).
“The Delta variant (B.1.617.2/India) is now the most common lineage (24.2%) among sequenced samples, nationally,” said Vergeire.
The Beta variant (B.1.351/South Africa) is at second place comprising 21.8 percent (2,734 cases) of all samples sequenced, while the third most common lineage at 19.6 percent (2,461 cases) is the Alpha variant (B.1.1.7/UK).
There were 13 and 9 cases of the Alpha and Beta variants, respectively, in the latest whole genome sequencing of the PGC last September 18. A total of 374 samples were sequenced.
This means that 85.3 percent of those recently sequenced are Delta variants, while 3.5 percent are Alpha variants, and 2.4 percent are Beta variants.
Vergeire said the Alpha, Beta, and Delta variants have been detected in all regions of the Philippines and all cities and municipality of the National Capital Region (NCR).
It was back in July 15 when the Philippines recorded the country’s first locally acquired case of the Delta variant.
Asked where the surge in Delta variant cases can be attributed to, Vergeire said it is mainly because of its high transmissibility characteristics.
“The increased proportion of these variant can be attributed to their increased transmissibility,” said Vergeire.
