By Pearl Gumapos
Local government units are now implementing stricter contact tracing measures following the detection of additional Delta variant cases and local transmission in the country, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Friday.
As of July 22, the country has recorded a total of 47 Delta variant cases with 36 having recovered, three dead, and eight as still active cases.
Of the recorded total, 24 are returning overseas Filipinos while the other 23 are local cases.
“We still have to receive the complete reports of these contact tracing efforts, but local governments are doing their contact tracing right now,” DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said during an online media briefing.
Among the local cases, six are from Region 3, two from Calabarzon, two from Region 6, six from Region 10, and seven from the National Capital Region.
About 76% of the Delta variant cases are aged 14 to 79 years and are males.
“As for the vaccination status, two cases received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine, four cases received one dose while 18 cases were confirmed not to be vaccinated while the vaccination status of the remaining cases is currently being verified,” Vergeire said.
The additional 12 cases reported on Thursday were all deemed recovered.
Their ages range from 19 to 58 years old and nine are males.
Their vaccination statuses are under verification.
The DOH also said the additional 12 Delta variant cases are all local cases — six from Bataan, two from Laguna, one from Manila, two from Pasig, and one from Taguig.
“Tayo ay talagang nakikipag-usap sa mga local governments dahil ayaw naman nating tuluyang kumalat ang mga variants of concern, specifically the Delta variant,” Vergeire said.
She added that the government is implementing all strategies to contain the local transmission and keep it from becoming a community transmission. -rir