AN additional 279 cases of the Delta variant of COVID-19 were detected by the Philippine Genome Center (PGC), bringing the total number of the highly-transmissible variant (B.1.617.2) to 2,068.
Additional cases of other variants were also found in the latest batch of 367 sequenced samples — 29 Alpha (B.1.1.7), 28 Beta (B.1.351), and 13 P.3 cases.
With the latest genome sequencing results, the Department of Health said more than three out of every four variants being seen are Delta variants.
“Of the 367 samples sequenced, 76% had the Delta variant, 7.9% had the Alpha variant, 7.6% had the Beta variant, and 3.5% had the P.3 variant,” said the DOH.
Last week, the World Health Organization-Philippines said the Delta variant has now become the most dominant COVID-19 variant in the country and is already seeing community transmission nationwide.
The DOH said of the 279 new Delta cases, 245 are local cases, 21 are returning overseas Filipinos (ROF), and 13 cases are “being verified if these are local or ROF cases.”
Among the local cases, 51 cases had addresses in Metro Manila (National Capital Region).
The distribution in the rest of the country’s 17 regions are: 35 in Calabarzon, 24 Central Luzon, 22 Northern Mindanao, 19 Bicol , 17 Ilocos, 17 Cagayan Valley, 14 Eastern Visayas, 13 Cordillera Administrative Region, 10 Davao, nine Mimaropa, five each in Central Visayas and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, three Western Visayas, and one case in the Zamboanga Peninsula.
Based on the case line list, two cases are still active, eight cases have died, 267 cases have been tagged as recovered, while the outcomes of two cases are being verified.
“All other details are being validated by the regional and local health offices,” said the DOH.
The DOH said all the 29 additional Alpha variant cases are all local cases.
Based on the case list, one case is still active, one has died, while 27 cases have been tagged as recovered.
The total number of Alpha variant cases is now 2,424.
All the 28 additional Beta variant cases are also tagged as local cases, and all have recovered. The total Beta cases is now 2,697.
The 13 additional P.3 variant cases are also local cases. One has died while the rest have recovered. The total P.3 variant cases is now 442.
Baguio City reported seven more Delta cases, bringing the total to 13.
Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong said members of the city’s contact tracing team conducted link analysis on the new cases, extending up to their fifth generation contacts.
“The analysis yielded 470 close contacts, 113 of whom were also confirmed cases. Of the number, 245 are considered possible cases. All of them will be subjected to back tracing, retesting and monitoring,” the city said in a statement.
A total of 206 new COVID-19 cases were reported on Sunday, increasing the total infections in the city to 18,196, broken down into 1,248 active cases, 350 deaths, and 16,598 recoveries.
Meanwhile, the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) reported a surge in patients with severe COVID-19 and said it would not accept “uncoordinated referrals.”
“Our COVID facilities are all at full capacity, including probable and suspect cases with comorbidities. Likewise, our emergency rooms are filled with patients waiting for available beds,” it said. — With Victor Reyes
