The Department of Health (DOH) reported 144 local cases out of 177 additional COVID-19 Delta variant cases nationwide.
Based on the genome sequencing report of the Philippine Genome Center as of Aug. 12, the National Capital Region (NCR) holds the highest number of Delta variant cases with 90 followed by Calabarzon with 25 cases, Cagayan Valley with 18, eight cases in Ilocos region, two in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), two in Western Visayas, and one in the Davao region.
According to the recent report, only Region 4-B, CARAGA, Region 12, and BARMM remain to be Delta-free in the country.
In relation to this, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said on Wednesday (Aug. 11) that the symptoms for the Delta variant cannot be clearly identified in an individual following the reports of the Delta symptoms are similar to an allergy.
“We should all assume na kung ano man ang merong nagta-transmit sa atin ngayon, we assume na ito ay delta variant, kung ano man ang maging sintomas ko, yan ang kailangang pagtuunan ng pansin, kailangan mag-isolate agad, kailangan magpa-test agad, kailangan po natin mai-manage agad,” she said.
Moreover, the department reminded the COVID-19 close contacts to complete the 14-day quarantine period after studies of the country’s experts showed that the viral load of vaccinated individuals and unvaccinated individuals are the same if they are infected by the Delta variant.
Report from Mark Fetalco/NGS-rir
