The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday disclosed the detection of 16 Covid delta variant cases, including 11 local cases.
Although local cases have been recorded already, Dr. Alethea de Guzman, Epidemiology Bureau Director of the DOH, assured there is still no “local transmission” in the country.
“We have local cases [of delta variant]…We have clustering from other regions but we are still carefully studying if they are linked to each other,” de Guzman explained, adding that they continue to probe deeper to determine if there is already a “local transmission.”
University of the Philippines-Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC) Executive Director Dr. Cynthia Saloma, also denied that delta variant mutated naturally in the country saying, “[this Delta variant] is 100 percent sourced from abroad.”
The DOH said that 16 new delta (B.1.617.2) variant cases, including the first 11 local cases were detected based on the latest whole genome sequencing report of the UP-PGC and the UP-National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH).
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that five of the 16 cases are Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROFs). One case arrived in the Philippines from the United Kingdom on April 26, 2021 and has been tagged as recovered after undergoing the 14-day quarantine period.
Another two of these cases arrived in the Philippines from Qatar on June 15, 2021 and have also been tagged as recovered. The DOH is still verifying the arrival and quarantine status of the two other ROF cases.
Eleven cases are classified as local cases. Of these, two are from City of Manila, five from Cagayan de Oro, one from Misamis Oriental, two from Antique, and another, whose indicated address was in Pampanga, but was tested in Metro Manila.
The six cases detected in Region 10 are part of a large cluster of cases, with dates of onset between June 23 and 28. All have been tagged as recovered.
One case was tagged as dead after being rushed to the emergency room of a hospital on June 28.
The other case is an outpatient with an onset date of June 23, who was tagged as recovered. One other case, an outpatient with an onset date of June 27 and was also tagged as recovered, was initially tested in the National Capital Region but has an indicative address in Region 3. All these cases have no known connection to each other.
The last two local cases were detected in Antique, both with an onset date of May 27. Both have also been tagged as recovered.
The DOH is in close coordination with the Centers for Health Development and Local Government Units to ensure that all cases have been or are appropriately traced and managed. The Bureau of Quarantine and the Department of Transportation are on high alert to implement strict border control measures.
De Guzman disclosed that one of the case positive for delta variant was fully vaccinated.
Alpha, beta, and theta variants
The DOH also said that the UP-PGC and UP-NIH reported the detection of additional 264 cases with alpha variant, 299 beta variant cases, and 55 theta variant cases from the latest batch of samples that have undergone sequencing.
To date, the UP-PGC has sequenced a total of 8,557 samples, of which 3,424 have variants being closely monitored by DOH.
Four-door policy
With the detection of local cases, Vergeire said that they are now intensifying their “Doors 3 and 4” policy.
“We have delayed the entry of the delta variant with the activation of Doors 1 and 2. Now that the country has detected local cases of the delta variant, Doors 3 and 4 are being activated. Door 3 would involve strengthening the implementation of the PDITR [Prevent-Detect-Isolate-Treat-Reintegrate] strategies, while Door 4 is ensuring that our health-care capacity is ready for a possible surge,” Vergeire stressed.
The DOH also reminded the public that the spread of Covid-19 globally, while being controlled by vaccination, is still being driven by the emergence of variants of concern, increased social mobility, and inappropriate use of public health measures.
Border control
Meanwhile, Vergeire said that granular lockdowns or restrictions would be part the government’s response to help contain the variant.
“However, cases are sporadic, it is not only clustering in one area,” she said.
Vergeire also said that the strict border control measures that were implemented gave them time to prepare, especially the health-care system of the country.
“We will not going to wait until we get overwhelmed,” she said, adding local government units should strictly implement the PDITR strategy.
“Even people are being vaccinated, minimum public health measures such as physical distancing and masking should not be neglected,” she said.