Covid-19 Delta variant cases detected in the country jumped from 5 percent in June to 99 percent of lineages detected in October, the Department of Health (DOH) reported on Monday.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that the latest batch of whole genome sequencing conducted by the Philippine Genome Center (PGC) also showed the detection of additional 426 Delta (B.1.617.2) variant cases, 18 Beta (B.1.351) cases, and 10 Alpha (B.1.1.7) cases.
“Latest run comprised of 506 samples collected in March, April, September, October and November [November 20],” Vergeire said wherein 1.98 percent is Alpha (10 cases), 3.56 percent (18 cases), and 84.19 percent (426 cases).
Of the 20,561 samples sequenced by the PGC since March, 18,383 samples (89.41 percent) were detected to have lineages.
“Delta variant is the most common lineage [38.29 percent] nationally among sequenced samples. Once detected in a region, it becomes the more common lineage,” Vergeire said.
The Beta variant comprises 19.56 percent among all samples sequenced, making it the second most common lineage.
Of the 3,139 or 17.08 percent samples positive for the Alpha variant and 0.02 percent or three samples positive for the Gamma variant.
“All regions and all NCR [National Capital Region] city/municipality either have Alpha or Beta variants detected,” the DOH official said adding that the Delta variant, initially detected from Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROFs), is now detected in all 17 regions and all NCR city/municipality as well.
The P.3 variant, while initially observed in only one region, is now detected in all regions.
Local cases of Alpha and Beta, Vergeire added, can be directly linked to an introduction by an incoming international traveler.
Of 1,178 ROF samples sequenced, 811 (68.8 percent) were positive for a variant of concern.
Image courtesy of AP/Aaron Favila