116 new Delta variant cases recorded in PH

According to the Department of Health (DOH), the total number of Delta variant cases of COVID-19 in the Philippines has risen to 331 after identifying 116 new cases yesterday.

Based on the results of ‘whole genome sequencing by the University of the Philippines-Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC) and the University of the Philippines-National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH), of the 116 new cases, 95 local cases, one Returning Overseas Filipino (ROF), and 20 are still being verified.

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Of the 95 local cases, 83 were from the National Capital Region (NCR), three from Calabarzon, four from Central Visayas, da-lake in Davao Region, and one from Zamboanga Peninsula, Cagayan Valley, and Ilocos Region.

All the new cases that have been added have already been recovered. Other details of the patients are also still being confirmed.

Meanwhile, 113 new cases of the Alpha variant were also added to record its total number of cases in 1968.

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A total of 122 new Beta cases were also discovered to record a total of 2,268 cases, while 10 more new cases of the P.3 variant were added.

Meanwhile, after several denials, the Department of Health () admitted that the Delta variant is the main reason for the increase in new COVID-19 cases in the country in recent days.

116 new Delta variant cases recorded in PH

“Looking at our cases right now, it’s exponentially rising, so sa tingin po namin talaga Delta variant is driving the rise in the number of cases,” said Health Undersecretary .

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But Vergeire also did not rule out that other variants of concern such as Alpha and Beta may also add to the new cases.

Despite this, Vergeire clarified that the DOH still cannot confirm whether there is indeed community transmission of the Delta variant in the country.

“Our whole genome sequencing cannot provide us that evidence yet that’s why we cannot officially pronounce, although as I’ve said, we now treat this as community transmission, and we are acting towards that direction,” said Vergeire.

However, it is said that the Delta variant will have ‘community transmission’ due to its ‘high-transmissible’ nature or its faster transmission.

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