MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) said on Sunday that 182 more cases of the highly transmissible Delta variant of the coronavirus had been discovered, bringing the total to 807.
According to the DOH, the latest whole-genome sequencing report from the University of the Philippines-Philippine Genome Center and the University of the Philippines-National Institutes of Health revealed the first case of the Lambda variant, as well as new cases of the Alpha variant (41), Beta (66), and Theta (40).
The Lambda variant case is a 35-year-old female however it is unclear if she is a local or a returning overseas Filipino (ROF) case.
After the 10-day isolation period, she was asymptomatic and classified as recovered.
The DOH is actively tracing the contacts.
On June 14, 2021, the World Health Organization categorized the Lambda variant, which was initially discovered in Peru in August 2020, as a Variant of Interest.
Of the 182, 112 are local cases, 36 are ROFs, and 34 are awaiting confirmation as to whether they are local or ROF cases.
One case is still active, 176 have been labeled as recovered, four have died, and one is being investigated.
Of the 112 local cases, 42 cases had indicated addresses in the National Capital Region, 36 cases are from Central Luzon, eight cases from Calabarzon, six cases from Mimaropa, six cases from Northern Mindanao, four from Central Visayas, three from Davao Region, three in Caraga, two in Western Visayas, and one case each in the Cordillera Administrative Region and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Regional and local health officials are validating other details.
“Upon verification, it was determined that two cases that were initially tagged as Delta cases from NCR last Aug. 4 were Beta variant cases,” the DOH said.
Meanwhile, 38 of the new 41 Alpha variant cases are local, one is an ROF, and two are being validated.
Two people have died, 36 have recovered, and three are being verified.
So far, there are 2,232 cases of the Alpha variant, which was initially discovered in the United Kingdom.
There are 56 local cases among the 66 new Beta variant cases, and 10 cases are being validated as either local or ROF cases. Two people have died, 63 recovered, and one outcome is being verified.
Regardless of the variant of concern, the DOH reaffirmed to the public that strict adherence to basic public health standards, a reinforced Prevent-Detect-Isolate-Treat-Reintegrate strategy, and vaccination are effective.
