DOH logs additional Covid-19 Delta, Alpha, P.3 variant cases

ATOTAL of 116 additional Delta variant cases were reported on Thursday by the University of the Philippines-philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC) and the University of the Philippines-national Institutes of Health (UP-NIH), the Department of Health (DOH) said.

There were also 113 Alpha (B117) variant cases, 122 Beta (B1351) variant cases, and 10 P.3 variant cases detected in the latest batch of whole genome sequencing.

Delta variant

OF the additional 116 Delta variant cases, 95 are local cases, one is a returning overseas Filipino (ROF), and 20 cases are currently being verified if these are local or ROF cases.

Of the 95 local cases, 83 cases had an indicated address in the National Capital Region, while three had indicated addresses in Calabarzon, four in Central Visayas, two in Davao Region, and one each in Zamboanga Peninsula, Cagayan Valley, and Ilocos Region.

All cases have been tagged as recovered. All other information is being validated by regional and local health offices.

Among the total 216 Delta variant cases reported last July 29, the DOH verified one case which was tested in two different laboratories. Both samples were sent to UP-PGC, sequenced after an anonymized selection, and detected with the Delta variant.

With this, the DOH is amending the previous total Delta variant cases from 216 to 215. This brings the total Delta variant cases to 331.

Alpha variant

OF the additional 113 Alpha variant cases detected, 104 were local cases, one ROF, and eight are currently being verified if they are a local or ROF case.

Based on the case line list, two cases have died and 111 cases have been tagged as recovered.

Apart from this, an Alpha variant case tested from one laboratory had two samples that were both sequenced.

With this, the total Alpha variant case as of July 29 is updated from 1,856 to 1,855.

This brings the total Alpha variant cases to 1,968.

Beta variant

OF the additional 122 Beta variant cases, 104 were local cases, four ROFS, and 14 cases are currently being verified if they are local or ROF cases.

All cases have been tagged as recovered. The total Beta variant cases are now at 2,268.

P.3 variant

OF the 10 additional P.3 variant cases, nine were local cases and one was an ROF. All cases have been tagged as recovered.

“The DOH would like to reiterate that these cases detected with the variants of concern are already Covid-19 positive, hence, clinical management and response remain the same.

Likewise, the DOH also said that while community transmission of the Delta variant is being studied, the national government, together with local government units, “should act aggressively as if there is already community transmission.”

“Due to the imposition of enhanced community quarantine on the National Capital Region, the DOH is urging the public to continue practicing the minimum public health standards at all times to prevent the spread of Covid-19,” DOH stressed.

The DOH is also reminding everyone to ensure there is good ventilation whenever indoors by opening windows and doors.

Moreover, the DOH reiterated to the public to avail of free vaccination program.