MANILA – Health authorities have detected 12 additional cases of the more transmissible Delta variant, first detected in India, the Department of Health (DOH) reported on Thursday.
In a statement, the DOH said aside from the Delta variant, also detected were cases of Alpha variant (187), Beta variant (142) and Theta variant (12), based on the latest whole-genome sequencing report by the University of the Philippines-Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC), and the University of the Philippines-National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH).
So far, the country’s total number of Delta cases is 47.
All the 12 Delta variant cases were local cases with indicated addresses – six from Region 3, two from Calabarzon, one from Region 5 with one case, and three from the National Capital Region.
“Also, in the previous sequencing on July 15, 2021, 16 Delta variant cases were detected among five returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) and 11 local cases. Of the 16 cases, 2 died and the rest have completed their initial 10-day isolation period,” the DOH said.
It conducted immediate contact tracing, quarantine, and RT-PCR retesting were done on all cases and their close contacts upon release of sequencing results.
Third-generation contact tracing was also initiated.
Eight Delta variant cases who turned out positive on the re-swab test were placed in isolation and their contacts remained in quarantine.
Meantime, of the new 187 Alpha variant cases detected, about 179 were local cases, while eight are being verified as either local or ROF cases.
Based on the case line list, 54 cases have died while 133 have been tagged as recovered.
To date, the Alpha variant, first detected in the UK, cases in the country is now 1,668.
For the 142 Beta variant cases, 134 are local cases and eight cases are being verified as either local or ROF cases.
Based on the case line list, 21 have died and 121 have recovered.
The total Beta variant cases are now at 1,827.
Eleven of the 12 P.3 variant cases are local cases and one is being verified as either local or ROF case.
All cases have been tagged as recovered.
While the P.3 variant has been reclassified as “alert for further monitoring”, it is still being investigated and information are continually collected to monitor its public health implication.
To date, the UP-PGC has sequenced a total of 8,930 samples.
Health authorities urged the public to strictly adhere to stricter minimum public health standards and continue to avoid enclosed spaces and mass gatherings with the detection of local cases with the Delta variant and other variants of concern. (PNA)
