AN additional 55 Delta variant cases were detected by the University of the Philippines-Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC) in the latest batch of whole genome sequencing, the Department of Health (DOH) reported on Sunday, amid fears that Covid-19’s more transmissible variant is fast spreading. The new batch brings the total Delta variant cases to 119.
The DOH said 94 Alpha (B.1.1.7) variant cases, 179 Beta (B.1.351) variant cases and nine of the P.3 variant cases were also detected.
Of the 55 new Delta variant cases, 37 are local cases, 17 are Returning Overseas Filipino (ROFs), and one case is currently being verified if this is a local or ROF case.
Of the 37 local cases, 14 were from Calabarzon, eight from Northern Mindanao, six had an indicated address in the National Capital Region (NCR), six from Central Luzon, two from Davao Region, and one from the Ilocos Region.
One case has died while 54 cases were tagged as recovered.
Variants
OF the additional 94 Alpha variant cases detected, 87 are local cases, one ROF, and six are currently being verified if they are local or ROF cases.
Based on the case line list, one remains active, two cases have died, and 91 cases have been tagged as recovered. This brings the total Alpha variant cases to 1,775.
Of the additional 179 Beta variant cases, 168 were local cases, four were ROFs, and seven cases are currently being verified if they are local or ROF cases.
Based on the case line list, two are still active, one died, 175 have been tagged as recovered, and one outcome which is currently being verified. The total Beta variant cases are now at 2,019.
The additional nine P.3 variant cases are local cases who have been tagged as recovered.
The consecutive releases of several batches of whole genome sequencing results over the past week are a result of the added resources being provided to the DOH, UP-PGC, and UP-National Institutes of Health for Covid-19 biosurveillance.
Samples with more recent collection dates and those from areas with spikes were prioritized to determine the presence and spread of these variants in these areas.
The DOH reiterated that the purpose of whole genome sequencing is to guide the overall strategies of the government and not for individual case management. The samples sequenced are already Covid-19-positive regardless of the variant, “therefore management and treatment of these cases should remain the same.”
“Moreover, all necessary health measures should have been implemented to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the community,” the DOH said.
With the confirmation of the local transmission of the Delta variant, the DOH called for a swifter implementation of response strategies.
“Local government units must immediately contain observed case increases through granular lockdowns and stronger PDITR (Prevention, Detection, Isolation, Treatment, and Reintegration strategies) implementation,” the DOH stressed.
The DOH also called on both public and private sectors to ensure active case finding, aggressive contact tracing, immediate isolation or quarantine, and compliance to minimum public health standards in their respective localities and even work places.
“We also call on our community members who have become exposed or developed Covid-19 signs or symptoms to immediately isolate and reach out to their Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams or BHERTs for appropriate medical management,” the DOH concluded.
Davao threat
AMID the threat of highly infectious Delta variant, lawmakers asked anew the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to check on the continuous spike of Covid-19 cases in Mindanao, particularly in Davao City and Cagayan de Oro City, which both listed as cities with high number of daily new infections.
Bayan Muna Rep. Eufemia Cullamat made the appeal amid the reported rising cases of Covid-19 in Davao City.
“[Despite increasing cases of Covid-19] the health issue of the population in Davao has not been given priority,” he said.
“In recent months, these cases have been reported, and to date the number of Covid cases in Davao City continues to rise. We want to know where the attention of those in charge of that city is? It is the city of origin of the President so it is difficult to imagine that it is not in the priority in fund allocation [for Covid response],” she said.
For seven consecutive weeks since the month of June, Davao City has continuously topped the list of cities in the country with highest number of COVID-19 cases, the Department of Health (DOH) data showed.
From June 7 to July 19, Davao City is listed as having the most number of daily new coronavirus infections. It has continuously surpassed the number of new infections in other high-risk cities, which include Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo, Makati, Cagayan de Oro, Baguio, General Santos, Laoag, Lapu-Lapu and Butuan.
Latest report
THE latest report from the OCTA Research Group has shown the same result. Based on their monitoring for the period of July 13 to July 19, Davao City has logged 219 daily average cases, slightly lower as compared from previous week’s 226.
However, based on latest OCTA monitoring, Davao City still topped the list of local government units (LGUs) in the country with most number of daily infections, and that it continuously overtakes other cities, to include Quezon City with 124, Cebu City with 108, Manila with 104, Bacolod with 96 and Iloilo City with 95.
According to OCTA Research Fellow Ranjit Rye, the fact that Davao City has remained to be the city with highest number of daily infections for seven straight weeks already, this only indicates that the strategy in place in Davao City is not effective, and that their strategy has to be changed and new policies have to be introduced.
More vaccines
MEANWHILE, Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez said a team of the IATF on pandemic response has already visited Cagayan de Oro City to check on the increasing Covid-19 cases.
Rodriguez said the team is led by IATF chairman and Health Secretary Francisco Duque lll, chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez and NTF Chair Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.
“Their visit is timely since we have Delta variant cases in Cagayan de Oro. They can advise city officials and local health authorities on what to do to stop the spread of this variant and Covid-19,” he said.
Quoting the Department of Health, he said four of the five Delta variant-infected persons in Cagayan de Oro, who had previously recovered from the infection, have tested positive again, along with one from Misamis Oriental, which the city is part of.
“Five of the eight reinfections are from our area. That shows the severity of the situation there, which has prompted the IATF to impose the strictest quarantine restriction in Cagayan de Oro,” he said.
The visit of the IATF team was in response to the request of Rodriguez, who has also asked for more vaccines for his city.