279 new Delta cases detected
WITH the country recording its highest number of cases last Sept. 1 and consequently breaching two million COVID-19 cases on the same date, the Department of Health (DOH) strongly called on the public to strictly adhere to the minimum public health standards as a crucial support to vaccination efforts to prevent further transmission of COVID-19 and its variants.
The DOH made the call in the wake of the sustained increase in the detection of Delta variant cases, having detected 279 additional Delta (B.1.617.2) variant cases, 29 Alpha (B.1.1.7) variant cases, 28 Beta (B.1.351) variant cases, and 13 P.3 variant cases in the latest batch of whole genome sequencing.
The DOH said a total of 367 samples submitted by 60 laboratories, collecting institutions, and different Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Units (RESU) were sequenced by the University of the Philippines – Philippine Genome Center and the University of the Philippines – National Institutes of Health.
Of the additional 279 Delta variant cases, 245 are local cases, 21 are returning overseas Filipinos, and 13 cases are currently being verified if these are local or ROF cases.
While of the 245 local cases, 17 cases had indicated addresses in the Ilocos Region, while 17 cases had indicated addresses in Cagayan Valley, 24 cases in Central Luzon, 35 cases in CALABARZON, nine cases in MIMAROPA, 19 cases in Bicol Region, three cases in Western Visayas, five cases in Central Visayas, 14 cases in Eastern Visayas, one case in Zamboanga Peninsula, 22 cases in Northern Mindanao, 10 cases in Davao Region, five cases in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, 13 cases in Cordillera Administrative Region, and 51 cases in the National Capital Region.
Based on the case line list, two cases are still active, eight cases have died, 267 cases have been tagged as recovered, while the outcome of two cases are being verified. All other details are being validated by the regional and local health offices.
The total Delta variant cases are now 2,068.
Meanwhile, the additional 29 Alpha variant cases were 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 Alpha variant cases are now 2,424.
On the other hand, the additional 28 Beta variant cases were all local cases. Based on the case list, all have been tagged as recovered. The total Beta variant cases are now 2,697.
The 13 additional P.3 variant cases were all local cases. Based on the case list, one case has died while 12 cases have been tagged as recovered.
The DOH also enjoined all local government units to strengthen their implementation of the PDITR and vaccination strategies, especially in Alert Level 3 and 4 areas, impose granular lockdown measures as necessary, conduct aggressive contact tracing, and reduce the interval between testing and isolation/quarantine.
The DOH also called on the private sector to continue the implementation of alternative working arrangements and coordinate with their local government units for workplace testing.
