THE Department of Health (DOH) yesterday reported 12 additional local cases of the Delta (B.1.617.2/India) variant of the virus causing the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
This brings the total Delta variant cases in the country to 47.
The DOH, citing a report of the Philippine Genome Center (PGC), said six cases are from Central Luzon (Region III), three from the National Capital Region (NCR), two from the Calabarzon (Region IV-A) and one case from the Bicol region (Region V).
The DOH said all of the 12 additional cases have been tagged as recovered, although their outcomes are still being validated by regional and local health offices.
With the detection of the additional local Delta variant cases, the health department said it is now more crucial to implement enhanced response immediately in the areas where the cases were detected.
“The contiguous LGUs as well as areas with case spikes must apply the premise that there may be ongoing local transmission already,” said the DOH.
Just last week, the DOH reported 16 additional Delta variant cases, of which five are Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROFs), while the remaining 11 are the country’s first local cases.
Of the 16, two have died while the other 14 have been able to recover.
However, among the 14 survivors, eight have re-tested positive for COVID-19 after the conduct of reswabbing, and have since been placed in isolation.
Aside from the Delta variant, the DOH said the PGC has also detected 187 Alpha (B.1.1.7/UK) variant cases, 142 Beta (B.1.351/South Africa) variant cases, and 12 P.3 (Philippines) variant cases from the latest whole genome sequencing.
Of the additional 187 Alpha variant cases detected, 179 were local cases and eight are currently being verified if they were local or ROF cases. Based on the case line list, 54 cases have died while 133 have been tagged as recovered.
There are now a total of 1,668 Alpha variant cases in the Philippines.
Among the additional 142 Beta variant cases, 134 were local cases and eight cases are currently being verified if they are local or ROF cases. Of the number, 21 have died and 121 have recovered. The total Beta variant cases now stands at 1,827.
On the other hand, the additional 12 P.3 variant cases included 11 local cases while one is still being verified if it is a local or ROF case. All cases have been tagged as recovered, according to the case line list.
The DOH said there are now a total of 233 cases of P.3 variant, which has been reclassified as “alert for further monitoring”.
CARAGA region yesterday started implementing stricter border control checkpoints to prevent the entry and spread of the Delta variant from Misamis Oriental.
The measure was implemented following a meeting of the Caraga Regional Task Force fo COVID-19 One Caraga Shield, headed by Agusan del Norte Gov. Dale Corvera, on Wednesday.
Corvera said Agusan del Norte had earlier issued an executive order to heighten travel restrictions on people coming from Northern Mindanao to prevent the entry of the more transmissible variant.
The body also approved the proposal of Agusan del Sur Gov. Santiago Cane Jr. to impose stricter border checkpoints to address the threat.
There five of the eight active Delta variant cases were detected in Misamis Oriental, of which four were from the province’s capital Cagayal de Oro City.
Under the current regional border control protocols, non-Caraga residents who want to enter the region have to present a negative RT-PCR test, vaccination card, S-pass, company ID and travel authority for those belonging to the Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APOR) category, company ID for frontline medical workers, and delivery receipt or mayor’s permit for cargo and delivery truck personnel.
CARAGA residents were requested to avoid travelling to areas with Delta variant cases if they are not essential or emergency in nature.
Gingoog City Mayor Erick Canosa said the only Delta variant case in the city is now on his/her way to recovery.
Canosa said the four members of the patient’s household, who have tested positive of the virus, are also already on their way to recovery. — With Victor Reyes and Raymond Africa
