The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday night confirmed the local transmission of the highly infectious Delta Covid-19 variant in the country and further emphasized the need to continuously enforce strict border control measures and intensify local Covid-19 responses.
Following the phylogenetic analysis conducted by the University of the Philippines – Philippine Genome Center and case investigation by the DOH Epidemiology Bureau and the regional and local epidemiology and surveillance units, the DOH stressed that clusters of Delta variant cases were seen to be “linked” to other local cases, therefore, exhibiting local transmission.
“The country has been implementing travel bans and stringent border control measures to delay the entry of the variant, giving the country a headstart to prepare its capacity to manage potential surges,” the DOH said.
The DOH said the government has initiated enhanced Covid-19 response in areas where Delta variant cases were detected through the implementation of the four-door strategy.
“Both the national and local governments have been continuously working together to intensify the implementation of the prevent, detect, isolate, treat, and re-integrate response strategies and increase the country’s health system capacity to be able to manage cases,” the DOH assured.
Furthermore, the government together with other National Government Agencies, Centers for Health Development, local government units (LGUs), and the private sector, has been ensuring that there are enough Covid-19-dedicated ward, ICU, and Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facility beds in the country, especially in areas experiencing case spikes.
The government is also preparing for enough supplies of Covid-19 medicines, oxygen tanks, and critical care equipment in hospitals and augmentation of human resources.
While the government is strengthening the implementation of PDITR or Prevention, Detection, Isolation, Treatment, and Reintegration strategiesat the local level and augmenting the healthcare capacity, the DOH reminded the public that
the best defense against any Covid-19 variant is still the correct and consistent adherence to the minimum public health standards and getting vaccinated when it is their turn.
Moreover, the DOH advised the public to avoid unnecessary travels and gatherings.
“DOH urges LGUs to shorten the duration of case detection to isolation and immediately isolate symptomatic patients, and ramp up their vaccination and prioritize the senior citizens and people with underlying conditions. The DOH further calls on everyone to work together to beat the Covid-19 pandemic.”