MANILA – Additional 279 cases of the more transmissible Delta variant have been confirmed by authorities, with 267 already recovered, the Department of Health (DOH) reported on Monday.
In a statement, the DOH said that aside from the Delta variant, also detected in the latest whole-genome sequencing of the University of the Philippines-Philippine Genome Center and the University of the Philippines-National Institutes of Health were cases of the Alpha variant (29), Beta (28), and Theta (13).
Of the additional Delta variant cases, 245 are local cases while 13 are returning overseas Filipinos.
Only two cases remain active, eight died, and two are being verified.
The new cases raised the country’s total of the variant first detected in India to 2,068.
Of the 245 local cases, 17 each are from the Ilocos Region and Cagayan Valley, 24 had indicated addresses in Central Luzon, 35 in Calabarzon, nine cases in Mimaropa, 19 in the Bicol Region, three in Western Visayas, five in Central Visayas, 14 in Eastern Visayas, one in the Zamboanga Peninsula, 22 in Northern Mindanao, 10 in Davao Region, five in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, 13 in the Cordillera Administrative Region, and 51 cases in the National Capital Region.
All other details were being validated by regional and local health offices.
All 29 new Alpha variant cases were local infections -- one still active, one died, and 27 have recovered.
The country has 2,424 total cases of the Alpha variant, first detected in the United Kingdom.
Similarly, all 28 additional Beta and 13 additional P.3 variant cases are local cases and tagged recovered, except for one P.3 death.
The DOH reiterated strict adherence to minimum public health protocols, vaccination, and local government units’ implementation of the Prevent-Detect-Isolate-Treat-Reintegrate (PDITR) strategy, especially in areas with rising Covid-19 cases and under granular lockdowns.
The private sector was likewise urged to continue the implementation of alternative working arrangements and testing of its employees. (PNA)
