While an official of the Department of Health (DOH) on Monday said that a possible community transmission of Covid-19 Delta variant has been observed in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Region 4A, an additional 466 of the more transmissible virus mutation were detected in the country based on the latest batch of whole genome sequencing conducted by the University of the Philippines-Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC).
Of the total 746 samples submitted by 62 collecting institutions and different Centers for Health Development (CHD) sequenced, there were also 90 Alpha (B.1.1.7) variant cases, 105 Beta (B.1.351) variant cases, and 41 P.3 variant cases that were detected.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that currently the DOH is seeing and has noted the “clustering” of cases in NCR and Region 4A.
However, Vergeire stressed, they still “need evidence” to officially confirm community transmission.
“We have seen and observed in NCR and [Region] 4A na talagang parang community transmission na ito [that this may be a community transmission already],” Vergeire said in an online media forum.
“We can observe that [community transmission] already but we need further evidence,” the DOH official added. Community transmission, she earlier explained, is when the infection spreads in such a way that the source is not known.
The DOH also clarified that the government needs “further evidence” to support the announcement of the whole country to have community transmission of the Delta variant.
However, the DOH explained that community transmission was identified in Region 4A and in NCR based on the following observations:
1. Large numbers of Delta cases and;
2. Case investigations and phylogenetic analysis showed that these cases can not be epidemiologically linked to each other nor source/s of infection determined.
“Analysis of the latest sequencing results for the determination of community transmission is ongoing among other regions. The DOH, the national government, and the local government units, however, have since responded as if there is already community transmission,” DOH said.
Delta variant
Of the additional 466 Delta variant cases, 442 are local cases, 14 are returning overseas Filipinos (ROF), and 10 cases are currently being verified if these are local or ROF cases.
Of the 442 local cases, 201 cases have indicated addresses in the NCR, while 69 cases have indicated addresses in Central Luzon, seven in Cagayan Valley, 49 cases in Calabarzon or Region 4A, 14 cases in Mimaropa or Region 4B, four cases in Bicol Region, 52 cases in Western Visayas, 19 cases in Central Visayas, six cases in Northern Mindanao, 11 cases in Davao Region, seven cases in Soccsksargen, and three cases in the Ilocos Region.
Based on the case line list, one is still active, eight cases have died, while 457 cases have been tagged as recovered.
All other details are being validated by the regional and local health offices.
The total Delta variant cases now stand at 1,273.
Alpha variant
Of the additional 90 Alpha variant cases detected, 89 were local cases and one case is currently being verified if this is a local or ROF case.
Based on the case line list, one case is still active, one case has died, and 88 cases have been tagged as recovered.
The total Alpha variant cases are now 2,322.
Beta variant
Of the additional 105 Beta variant cases, 101 were local cases and 4 cases were ROFs.
Based on the case line list, four cases have died, 99 cases have been tagged as recovered, and two cases with outcomes that are being verified.
The total Beta variant cases are now 2,588.
P.3 variant
The 41 additional P.3 variant cases were all local cases. Based on the case list, 40 cases have been tagged as recovered while one case has an outcome that is being verified.
The DOH further reiterated that active case finding, aggressive contact tracing and testing, lowering the interval between detection and isolation/quarantine, strengthened Prevent-Detect-Isolate-Treat-Reintegrate strategies, vaccination, and the strict adherence to the minimum public health standards are the interventions in preventing the transmission of the Covid-19 and its variants.
Image courtesy of Nonie Reyes