While the AY.4.2 Delta subvariant has not yet been detected in the country, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said “no one can ever be prepared for any variant” stressing “everything is still being studied.”
“So how can you be prepared when science and evidence are evolving? Vergeiere asked in an online media forum.
However, Vergeire stressed, “Based on our experience, we are more capable.”
Earlier, Vergeire also assured that the biosurveillance activities in the country have been closely monitoring 46 sublineages of the Delta variant following the reports on the increase of sublinage AY.4.2 in the United Kingdom (UK) and its detection in other countries outside the UK.
“As of this moment, experts are still studying the potential impact of the Delta sublineage on the transmissibility and severity of Covid-19,” Vergeire said adding that the particular Delta sublineage has not yet been detected among the Covid-19 positive samples sequenced in the country.
While this is being investigated, Vergeire said that the DOH emphasized that “regardless of the variant, all Covid-19 cases should be managed similarly and as per current protocols.”
“Each case must be immediately isolated and contact traced upon detection. Current evidence also showed that the presence or absence of a variant of interest or concern among cases do not dictate the appropriate clinical management. We should always remain vigilant against Covid-19, moreso that we are safely reopening our economy,” Vergeire said.
The DOH reminded the public that, while variants may contribute to increase or aggravate Covid-19 cases, strict and proper adherence to the minimum public health standards reduces the risk of getting exposed to Covid-19.
The DOH added that mutations occur as part of the natural process of virus evolution.
Meanwhile, the DOH logged 4,043 additional Covid -19 cases, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 2, 779,943.
There were also 3,224 recoveries and 44 deaths.
Of the total number of cases, 1.8 percent (50,630) are active, 96.6 percent (2,686,692) have recovered, and 1.53 percent (42,621) have died.
Thirty duplicates were removed from the total case count. Of these, 28 are recoveries.
All laboratories were operational and were able to submit their data to the Covid-19 Document Repository System.