The Department of Health (DOH) reported today (July 22) the detection of 12 more COVID-19 Delta variant cases in the country, all of which are considered local cases.
The Delta cases from the 373 sequenced samples on July 21 include six from Region 3, two from Calabarzon, one in Region 5, and three in the National Capital Region (NCR).
The DOH said all the newly confirmed Delta cases have been tagged as recovered, but their outcomes are being validated by their regional and local health offices.
There are currently eight active cases in the country out of the 47 cases on record, 36 have already recovered, and three have died. At least 23 of the cases are local.
The result of the latest batch of sequenced samples also included 187 additional Alpha variant cases, 142 Beta cases, and 12 P.3 variant cases.
The OCTA Research Group reported that Metro Manila is experiencing an increase in the number of cases that may have also been driven by the Delta variant.
DOH data show that the number of average daily cases in the NCR increased by 27% or to 813 between July 15 to 21, from the 638 count between July 8 and 14.
The reproduction number in the region also rose to 1.15, placing it under the high risk category for COVID-19. The group said the current reproduction number’s trend shows a similar pattern to the February 13 to 19 trend, or during the onset of case surge.
Read more: OCTA data: NCR COVID-19 reproduction number up anew
“Next week, [it is] possible to have mga 9,000 to 10,000 cases sa Philippines. We suggest that [it] can be reversed at this time. Pero kung hindi natin ma-mitigate, pwedeng tumaas ‘yan to 9,000 to 10,000 in next two weeks,” OCTA fellow Dr. Guido David said. – Report from Mark Fetalco/AG- jlo
