Hundreds more have been added to the number affected by the more infectious Delta variant of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), according to the latest record released by the local authority.
The Department of Health (DOH), UP Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC), and UP National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH) reported 640 new Delta variant cases in the new batch of genome sequencing released this Monday.
“The total Delta variant cases are now 2,708,” said the DOH, PGC, and NIH this morning. Here is a breakdown of the new Delta variant cases:
- local cases (584)
- returning overseas Filipinos (52)
- bineberipika pa (4)
When it comes to local cases, here are the top regions of the newly discovered variants:
- National Capital Region (112)
- Cagayan Valley (52)
- CALABARZON (49)
“There were two cases whose indicated address was the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao,” it added.
Delta variant cases in PH reaches 2,708 – local experts
“Based on the case line list, three cases are still active, 13 cases have died, while 624 cases have been tagged as recovered.”
Although the Alpha variant is more contagious than usual, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the Delta variant is 60% more contagious.
On August 31, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the Delta variant as the most dominant COVID-19 variant of concern in new transmissions in the Philippines.
“As cases with the Delta variant and other variants of concern comprised the largest percentage of cases included for sequencing on this latest run, the DOH strongly reminds everyone to continue its enhanced PDITR + vaccination strategies, ramped up active case finding, contact tracing, and testing, and strict adherence to the minimum public health standards across all settings to prevent the transmission of the COVID-19 and its variants,” they said.
New cases of Alpha, Beta, and P.3 variants have also increased due to sequencing by local experts, with the previous two being more contagious than usual.
Of the 24 additional Alpha variant cases recorded, 23 were local cases, while one came from other countries.
“Based on the case list, one case died while 23 cases have been tagged as recovered,” the report said.
“The total Alpha variant cases are now 2,448.”
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